AN 18-YEAR-OLD SIOUX CITY MAN CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER IN THE NEW YEAR’S DAY STABBING DEATH OF JERMEL ELLINGTON HAS ACCEPTED A PLEA AGREEMENT IN THE CASE.
JK ATHREE WAS 17-YEARS-OLD WHEN ELLINGTON’S BODY WAS FOUND WITH 16 STAB WOUNDS IN A PARKED CAR OUTSIDE OF ATHREE’S HOUSE.
COURT DOCUMENTS STATE THAT ATHREE WAS IN THE CAR LISTENING TO MUSIC AND KNEW ELLINGTON WAS DECEASED, BUT STAYED IN THE CAR UNTIL HE WENT INSIDE HIS FAMILY’S HOME TO CHARGE HIS PHONE AND TOLD HIS FAMILY.
AUTHORITIES WERE NOTIFIED AND ATHREE WAS ARRESTED.
ON MONDAY, ATHREE AND HIS ATTORNEY AGREED TO ENTER A GUILTY PLEA TO SECOND DEGREE MURDER, A CLASS B FELONY.
UNDER THE TERMS OF THE PLEA AGREEMENT, ATHREE WOULD SERVE A MAXIMUM OF 50 YEARS IN PRISON, AND WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE UNTIL HE HAS SERVED 20 YEARS OF THAT SENTENCE.
ATHREE MUST ALSO PAY $150,000 IN RESTITUTION TO JERMEL ELLINGTON’S .ESTATE.
A PLEA HEARING IS SET FOR WEDNESDAY.
