The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Staff, Wire Reports
Posted: Sunday, January 21, 2018 07:28 PM
Guilty Verdicts In Zaevion Dodson Murder Trial
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) The jury
reached guilty verdicts in the Zaevion Dobson murder trial Thursday.
On Thursday, the jury made rulings regarding charges against Christopher
Drone Bassett, Kipling Deshawn Colbert and Richard Gregory Williams III
in connection to the Dec. 17, 2015, death of the Knoxville teen.
Christopher Bassett was found guilty of unlawful possession of a weapon
and guilty of first degree murder. Bassett was also found guilty of
attempted first degree murder on Zack Dobson. Bassett was found guilty
of 19 separate counts.
According to the District Attorney General's office, Bassett's first
degree murder conviction could result in a sentence of life in prison.
Five Class A felonies could result in a sentence of 15 to 25 years in
prison; three Class B felonies could result in a sentence of eight to 12
years in prison; three Class C felonies could result in six years in
prison for each attempted second degree murder charge; one Class D
Felony could result in a sentence of two to four years in prison; and
one Class E Felony could result in a sentence of one to two years in
prison.
Kipling Colbert was found guilty of facilitation of first degree murder,
and guilty of facilitation of attempted murder on all charges. Colbert
was found guilty of 17 separate counts.
According to the District Attorney General's office, Colbert's
conviction of one Class A Felony could result in a sentence of 15 to 25
years in prison; five Class B Felonies could result in a sentence of
eight to 12 years in prison; and three Class C Felonies could result in
a sentence of three to six years in prison. Colbert was also convicted
of eight Class D Felonies.
Richard Williams was found guilty of facilitation of first degree
murder, and guilty of facilitation of attempted murder. Williams was
found guilty of 17 separate counts.
According to the District Attorney General's office, Williams'
conviction of one Class A Felony could result in a sentence of 15 to 25
years in prison; five Class Felonies could result in a sentence of eight
to 12 years in prison; and three Class C Felonies could result in a
sentence of three to six years in prison. Williams was also convicted of
eight Class D Felonies.
All three defendants were found guilty on all charges Thursday.
Sentencing was set for the three on February 2.
