An Augusta man held in jail for six years on a murder charge pleaded guilty Monday, Aug. 22, to reduced charges.
Brodrick Merritt, 40, pleaded guilty in Richmond County Superior Court to voluntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in the April 12, 2016, death of 16-year-old Malik Miles.
Merritt’s co-defendant in the case, 24-year-old Jaqwon T. Baker, stood trial in 2017. He was sentenced to 26 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter and theft.
Assistant District Attorney Kevin Davis said Monday that Baker and Merritt crossed paths with Miles on Idlewild Drive. Miles was on foot, and Baker got out of Merritt’s vehicle. He shot the teen, Davis said. Baker claimed that he shot Miles because Miles had shot him, but there was no report of that, Davis said.
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A Richmond County Sheriff deputy who was near the scene of a crime heard the gunshot that night, Davis said. He stopped a vehicle driving without headlights and could smell gun powder. Merritt and Baker were arrested that night.
At the time of Baker’s trial, the prosecutor offered Merritt a negotiated plea of five years in prison followed by a period of probation for voluntary manslaughter, but Merritt rejected the offer, Davis said.
Davis said the offer remained five years incarceration followed by probation. Because Merritt has been in jail for six years, he has already completed that part of the sentence.
Judge John Flythe sentenced Merritt to an additional 15 years on probation.
Sandy Hodson is a staff reporter covering courts for The Augusta Press. Reach her at sandy@theaugustapress.com.
