A Radcliff teen, who authorities say was an accomplice in the September 2016 slaying of a U.S. Army veteran inside his townhouse, won’t be sentenced Tuesday in Hardin Circuit Court as scheduled.
Eloysia James-Venerable, who was 16 when she and Aaron Pearson reportedly entered the home of Norman Hall, now is expected to be sentenced to serve 20 to 50 years or life in prison, with parole eligibility after 20 years, following Pearson’s January trial.
Hall, 71, was found September 9, 2016, by Radcliff police who were asked to perform a welfare check. Officers found him beaten to death.
James-Venerable, 18, accepted a plea deal earlier this year. The agreement hinges on her testimony against 25 year-old Pearson of Radcliff. Should James-Venerable not provide honest testimony, the Commonwealth could withdraw the offer and she will be sentenced to life without parole.
Pearson is scheduled for trial January 14, 2019. The Hardin County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office is seeking the death penalty in the case.
Once Pearson’s trial concludes, James-Venerable is expected to be sentenced, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Chris McCray said.
Authorities believe Pearson and James-Venerable went to Hall’s Pin Oak Court home to rob him and when Hall, who needed oxygen to go about his daily life, confronted the pair, he was killed. A widower, Hall died from multiple blows to his head and face and from being stabbed in the neck, officials said.
Authorities believe Pearson killed Hall and James-Venerable was an “eyewitness’’ to the homicide, McCray said after a March hearing in the case.
James-Venerable originally was charged with complicity to commit murder; first-degree burglary; first-degree receiving stolen property — firearm; and tampering with physical evidence. As part of the plea deal, the tampering with physical evidence and receiving stolen property charges were dismissed and the burglary charge was amended to first-degree robbery.
James-Venerable has been in the Hardin County Detention Center since September 25, 2017. She previously was held at a juvenile facility.
Pearson has been lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center since September 13, 2016. He is being held on a $1 million cash bond.
Source: NE
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