NATCHEZ — A Natchez teen will serve 18 years in prison for his role in the December 2014 shooting death of another teenager.

Emanuel C. Latham, 17, appeared before Sixth Judicial District Judge Forrest “Al” Johnson Wednesday to plead guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter. Latham was facing charges of murder and armed robbery.

Latham and Eddie Minor III, 19, were accused of robbing and shooting Taylor on Dec. 29, 2014, on Beaumont Street.

Minor was tried for a second time last week and found guilty of armed robbery. The jury could not return a verdict on the murder charge. Johnson sentenced Minor to 35 years in prison for the armed robbery charge. In his first trial the jury was hung on both charges.

Latham testified during Minor’s trial and said on the witness stand that Taylor came to a Beaumont Street residence where Latham, Minor and others were gathered and asked to purchase synthetic marijuana,

Latham testified that Minor retrieved two guns and asked him to follow his lead.

Police investigators alleged Latham and Minor were trying to rob Taylor.

Gunfire followed.

Latham testified that he emptied the clip in his gun after he thought a bullet flew by his head.

In court Wednesday prior to his sentencing, Latham read a statement apologizing to Taylor’s family.

“I pray for God’s forgiveness, and I pray for yours,” he said, facing Taylor’s family as he spoke. “I was a scared child in a bad situation. I’m truly sorry for what has happened.”

Prior to sentencing, District Attorney Ronnie Harper noted that Latham fully cooperated with the district attorney’s office and “has pretty much been cooperative since very early on in the process.”

Also prior to sentencing, Latham’s attorney, Sherwood Colette of Jackson, asked the court to consider Latham’s academic future, as he was set to graduate May 2017, that Latham had recently obtained a job, as well as his age.

Colette asked for a punishment alternative to prison time, he said, given a rehabilitative purpose would likely not be served by sending a 17 year old with an impressionable mind to prison.

Before passing down the 18-year sentence, Johnson acknowledged factors in Latham’s favor for leniency, including his age and no prior record before the court.

“The state is already granting you a lot of leniency with what your attorney has worked out for you,” Johnson said, noting Latham was facing a minimum of a two-year suspended sentence and a maximum 20 years in prison, and the state had agreed not to pursue an unrelated grand larceny charge that came about while Latham was out on bond.

Johnson said he had heard extensive testimony about murder and noted that Minor is older than Latham.

“But still you took some actions that this court just has to take note of,” Johnson said. “You actively participated in the robbery of a young man that ultimately resulted in gunshots. At some point, you fired your gun numerous times, and it really wasn’t in any type of self-defense.

“These are hard circumstances to overlook.”

Following his sentencing, Latham was remanded to the custody of the sheriff’s office to await the start of his sentence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by lindsey shelton

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — A Natchez teen will serve 18 years in prison for his role in the December 2014 shooting death of another teenager.

Emanuel C. Latham, 17, appeared before Sixth Judicial District Judge Forrest “Al” Johnson Wednesday to plead guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter. Latham was facing charges of murder and armed robbery.

Latham and Eddie Minor III, 19, were accused of robbing and shooting Taylor on Dec. 29, 2014, on Beaumont Street.

Minor was tried for a second time last week and found guilty of armed robbery. The jury could not return a verdict on the murder charge. Johnson sentenced Minor to 35 years in prison for the armed robbery charge. In his first trial the jury was hung on both charges.

Latham testified during Minor’s trial and said on the witness stand that Taylor came to a Beaumont Street residence where Latham, Minor and others were gathered and asked to purchase synthetic marijuana,

Latham testified that Minor retrieved two guns and asked him to follow his lead.

Police investigators alleged Latham and Minor were trying to rob Taylor.

Gunfire followed.

Latham testified that he emptied the clip in his gun after he thought a bullet flew by his head.

In court Wednesday prior to his sentencing, Latham read a statement apologizing to Taylor’s family.

“I pray for God’s forgiveness, and I pray for yours,” he said, facing Taylor’s family as he spoke. “I was a scared child in a bad situation. I’m truly sorry for what has happened.”

Prior to sentencing, District Attorney Ronnie Harper noted that Latham fully cooperated with the district attorney’s office and “has pretty much been cooperative since very early on in the process.”

Also prior to sentencing, Latham’s attorney, Sherwood Colette of Jackson, asked the court to consider Latham’s academic future, as he was set to graduate May 2017, that Latham had recently obtained a job, as well as his age.

Colette asked for a punishment alternative to prison time, he said, given a rehabilitative purpose would likely not be served by sending a 17 year old with an impressionable mind to prison.

Before passing down the 18-year sentence, Johnson acknowledged factors in Latham’s favor for leniency, including his age and no prior record before the court.

“The state is already granting you a lot of leniency with what your attorney has worked out for you,” Johnson said, noting Latham was facing a minimum of a two-year suspended sentence and a maximum 20 years in prison, and the state had agreed not to pursue an unrelated grand larceny charge that came about while Latham was out on bond.

Johnson said he had heard extensive testimony about murder and noted that Minor is older than Latham.

“But still you took some actions that this court just has to take note of,” Johnson said. “You actively participated in the robbery of a young man that ultimately resulted in gunshots. At some point, you fired your gun numerous times, and it really wasn’t in any type of self-defense.

“These are hard circumstances to overlook.”

Following his sentencing, Latham was remanded to the custody of the sheriff’s office to await the start of his sentence.