Guilty verdict given in murder case

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October 25, 2012

Guilty verdict given in murder case

By BRAD KELLAR Herald-Banner Staff The Herald-Banner Thu Oct 25, 2012, 07:07 AM CDT

GREENVILLE — A Greenville man has been found guilty of murder in connection with a shooting death in the city during the summer of 2011.

Antonio Derrance Fletcher is the second person to have been found guilty of murder involving the death of Javon Newman of Greenville.

A jury in the 354th District Court returned the guilty verdict Wednesday afternoon after deliberating for about 90 minutes following a 10 day trial.

Fletcher chose to have Judge Richard A. Beacom determine his punishment. Beacom then sentenced Fletcher to 45 years in prison.

A formal sentencing is scheduled in the court this morning.

Fletcher and Devin Eugene Royal, both of Greenville, were taken into custody on the evening of July 4, 2011 in Dallas.

Royal was previously convicted of Newman’s murder and was sentenced to life in prison.

Officers responded to a call of shots being fired at a local apartment complex early on the morning of July 2, 2011 and found that Newman had been shot multiple times. Individuals who witnessed the shooting identified Fletcher and Royal as suspects in the offense.

“We are very pleased with the jury’s decision,” said Hunt County District Attorney Noble D. Walker Jr. “With this verdict, both of the participants in the murder have been found guilty. My assistants Calvin Grogan and Steve Lilley did an outstanding job representing the State during this trial. Additionally, Officer Jaime Fuller, as well as the Greenville Police Department, worked very hard to solve this murder and bring the defendants to justice.”

Fletcher pleaded guilty in December 2004 to a charge of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to six years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Institutional Division.

Fletcher was indicted on the charge in November 2003 and was alleged in the indictment to have beaten a male victim with PVC pipe and bricks while in the course of stealing money on July 5, 2003.