An Augusta man who got in the middle of a fatal attempt to rob a drug dealer pleaded guilty Monday, Oct. 31, to reduced charges.
Demarcus Bright, 36, was arrested along with Marcus Tyler, 41, in the Dec. 15, 2019 death of Jermaine Sims. Tyler was convicted of all charges last year and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Tyler and Sims, 31, came up with a plan to rob Franklin Lewis. Sims’ girlfriend testified that Sims owed Tyler money and agreed to return from North Carolina and take part in a robbery. Bright was called into the plan because he knew Lewis and could set it up, Assistant District Attorney Stetson Cromer said Monday.
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The three men went to Lewis’ home on Watkins Street, where Sims pulled a gun, Cromer said. Lewis retrieved a gun and fired at Sims. He was shot is the head. Lewis wasn’t charged because he hadn’t committed any crime during the encounter, Cromer said.
Monday, Bright pleaded guilty in Richmond County Superior Court to voluntary manslaughter, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and criminal attempt to commit armed robbery.
Defense attorney Peter Johnson said it was difficult fact pattern. Bright didn’t kill anyone and wasn’t even carrying a gun, Johnson said. But Bright did participate in a crime during which Sims was killed.
Judge Ashley Wright accepted the plea agreement and sentenced Bright to 15 years in prison followed by five years on probation.
Sandy Hodson is a staff reporter covering courts for The Augusta Press. Reach her at sandy@theaugustapress.com.
