Murder trial ends in defendants pleading guilty

Published 11:47 am Tuesday, April 11, 2017

MILLEDGEVILLE,Ga. — The murder trial of two people accused in the Nov. 24, 2015 drive-by shooting of 28-year-old Devron Torrance has ended in Baldwin County Superior Court in Milledgeville.

The trial, which had spanned into its eighth day Tuesday, took a surprising twist when Antonio Middlebrooks and Montagus Davis pleaded guilty to two of the six charges against them.

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Both pleas followed more than 90 minutes of discussion between the defendants, their attorneys and back and fourth conversations with Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit District Attorney Stephen A. Bradley and Assistant District Attorney Leonard D. Myers.

The 16-year-old Middlebrooks, along with Davis, individually pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated assault and Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Prevention Act.

Both pleas were entered and accepted by Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit Superior Court Chief Judge William A. Prior, who presided over the trial.

Middlebrooks and Davis were both immediately sentenced after they entered their pleas.

They both received 20-year sentences. Each drew 15 years for aggravated assault and five years for the street gang charge.

They will actually serve only five years in confinement.

Davis will do his time in a state prison, while Middlebrooks will spend the majority of his time at the Regional Youth Detention Facility in Sandersville because he still is considered a juvenile. He will do the remainder of his time in prison after he turns 18.