MOULTRIE —
A Colquitt County man who pleaded guilty to a December slaying near Doerun received a life sentence Wednesday in Colquitt County Superior Court.
Ronald Elbert Bryant entered a guilty plea to a count of malice murder in the Dec. 18 fatal shooting of Millard Brett DeMott. Judge Richard M. Kent sentenced Bryant to life with the possibility of parole.
Under Georgia law Bryant, 49, will not be eligible for parole until he serves 30 years of the sentence.
Bryant was accused of shooting DeMott, 56, on the porch outside of his residence.
Law enforcement officials said that DeMott was shot multiple times with a shotgun.
A .410-caliber shotgun was recovered from Bryant’s truck on Dec. 19 at the time he turned himself in at the Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office.
Earlier this year Bryant was indicted on charges of malice murder, felony murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault and four counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
He was accused of taking DeMott’s wallet during the incident.
With the plea agreement, all the charges except malice murder were dismissed.
The body of DeMott, who served more than 10 years as a missionary in Honduras, was found at about 12:30 p.m. Dec. 18 outside his 4895 Ga. Hwy. 133 North residence. The residence is located about two miles south of Doerun behind DeMott Peanut Co.
Authorities were called after DeMott failed to show up at his job at Tifton Quality Peanuts.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Bryant
Discussion
Life sentence in slaying
Bryant pleads guilty to killing DeMott
- Local News
-
-
The Class of 2012 moves on
Colquitt County High School bid farewell to its 2012 seniors during graduation exercises Saturday morning at Mack Tharpe Stadium at Tom White Field. Scheduled for graduation were 471 students.
-
After high-speed chase, driver eludes police … for now
A Moultrie police officer failed to catch his quarry after a high-speed chase Thursday night, but a passenger in the vehicle gave him the name of a suspect.
-
Group works toward accountability court here
-
Students win for perfect attendance
-
Dough Boys Pizza open for business
-
Barber Tucker Inn reopens
-
Case ready for Jury
The 16 jurors in the trial of five alleged gang members finished hearing all of the evidence in the case Friday afternoon and could begin deliberating as early as Tuesday.
-
City pools to open Monday
-
Tragedy to keep Ryan James from graduation
Ryan won’t walk after all.
A hue and cry went up earlier this week when the Colquitt County Board of Education refused to let a senior with a developmental disability walk at today’s graduation. The board reversed its decision on Wednesday, but tragic events will prevent Ryan James from joining his classmates at Mack Tharpe Stadium. -
'Farewell Concert' set for Sunday
- More Local News Headlines
-
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
