Accused shooter in '06 murder pleads guilty

Tyler Renard King, 32, was scheduled to go on trial for first-degree murder. He pleaded guilty, instead, to a reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter.

King was accused of fatally shooting Franklin "Rich Mouth" Williams on May 22, 2006, on North Connell Avenue. Williams, 31, was a passenger in a blue Mercury Marquis. King reportedly was in a Chevrolet Suburban Silverado, which was found abandoned north of Halls an hour later.

King was sentenced to 15 years as a multiple offender, which means he must serve at least 35 percent of the sentence before being considered for parole. He is to serve the sentence consecutively to all prior sentences and parole violations.

Judge Lee Moore acknowledged that the sentence was longer than King would have received had he been charged with voluntary manslaughter.

Mark Hayes, King's defense attorney, said the normal sentencing range for voluntary manslaughter would be four to 15 years, depending upon the person's criminal record. With his record, King's sentencing range would have been between six and 10 years, Hayes said. King agreed to the additional years as part of his plea bargain agreement.

Wednesday's agreement was a bit unusual. Moore normally requires all plea agreements be made at least 30 days before the trial date.

Hayes told the judge that he'd had limited access to and limited communications with King, who has been incarcerated in a state prison.

After the plea had been accepted, Hayes said King is being housed at Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville. Hayes said King does not have access to a phone and a visit takes half a day. Hayes and the prosecutor, District Attorney General Phil Bivens, reached an agreement Tuesday morning and King accepted it Tuesday afternoon.