Truck Driver Sentenced to 35 Years for Death of Monticello Family of 5
September 26th, 2008 by Joe BurgessThe court case dealing with the death of a family of five on HWY 425 south of Pine Bluff, came to an end in a Jefferson County courtroom Wednesday, as a Mississippi truck driver, Roy Lee Jordan, who admitted to smoking crack cocaine, was sentenced to a 35 year prison term, after telling the judge in the case that he was guilty.
Jordan pleaded guilty to five counts of negligent homicide, resulting from the wreck on July 14, 2007., in which LaKetria Wells and her four children, LaKiyah Wells, age 7; Kaleb Jarrell Stokes, age 5; Keyshon Wells, age 4; and LaKayla Wells, age 2, all lost their lives.
Jordan also accepted a guilty plea to the charge of misdemeanor driving under the influence,Â
Sources have told MonticelloLive that Jordan may be eligible for parole in a third of the 35 year sentence, which is just under 12 years.
The wreck took place when Jordan’s tractor-trailer was headed north and crossed into the southbound lane, where Ms. Wells and her four children were traveling and crashed head-on.
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All five passengers in the Well’s vehicle were declared dead at the scene.
Veronica Wells, the mother and grandmother to the deceased told MonticelloLive, “It was a tragic loss. I wish he had gotten more time to serve, since he only has to serve a third of the time the court gave him..”
She added, “Our family wants to thank everyone for their continued prayers, calls, and kindness to us, duing our loss.”
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35 years…..7 years per person………That just doesn’t seem right. I think that whenever you either take drugs or drink and get behind the wheel that the charges should be premeditated. You know you are either high or drunk and you knowingly get behind the wheel. If that isn’t premeditated please tell me what is.
To both Ketra’s mom & dad, I was her softball coach during the summer while she was in school. I truly believe each person that comes and goes through our life does it for a reason. At the time we may not realize what that reason is for. I always laughed when Ketra had to run the bases. She wasn’t the fastest but she never game up.
I will ALWAYS miss her smile.
Now, what does that say about the judical system, this so called man killed 5 people. Four of them were children. how can he be out in 12 years. The family of thesse victims have to deal with this terrible loss for the rest of their lives. And all the man has to say is he’s sorry. What I don’t understand is he is only going to serve 12 years for killing a whole family, but drug dealers go to prison for just as long or longer. You get more time for selling drugs that killing, murdering. This was a crackhead, he admitted it and he is going to be able to hold is kids, grandkis, mother, aunt again. But, the Wells family will never be able to kiss, hug, touch their daughter, grandchildren
Yes our judicial system is definitely flawed. When I was only 13, my mother was killed by a drunk driver in 1996. The drunk driver was only sentenced to 6 years and he didn’t even serve half. Since then he has been arrested several times for drunk driving and even had another accident earlier this year. Thankfully no one else was involved in it, but he is still out running the streets awaiting another court date.
My heart breaks every time I think of what this family has been through and what I know they will continue to go through. Its a loss you never really get over. To the family, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Tara
I must say, the judicial system, oh what a system. In situations such as this, an individual should not have the opportunity for a plea bargain. I personally feel that Mr. Jordan knew that if he had gone before a jury trial that he would not have had the opportunity to see lights ever again. But, it is okay with our judicia system that the Wells family children will not have this opportunity but he will even if it is 10 years or so amd could possibly do this again. Who knows how long in the 30 years of his driving that this was not a habit waiting to cause a tragic. He may do the same again!!!! However, he does have hope to live for…
Mr. Jordan should have been taken before a jury trial and received a sentenced that would have been in the best interest of the family at loss. Like the previous person stated, when doing drugs/alcohol and one becomes impaired and still wants to get behind a wheel, he/she knows that you are taking a chance…PREMEDITATED; A chance that just so happened to take 5 wonderful precious lives from us…
Being family but yet a dear friend, this has been a devasting time for me as well. I shared the birth and growth of the mother and the children. Special bonds are now gone but memories last forever. So, I say to the family and friends of the victim’s family, I will continue to be in your corner and offer all the support I can. This too is a hardship for me; but I know time and prayer will make it easier day by day. Therefore, as 1 Peter 5:7 says, Cast all your cares on me and Proverbs 3:5-6 says, I will direct your steps. Family/Friends stay strong and believe all judgement will be granted.
Much Love Always!!!
What a terrible miscarriage of justice. If that guy doesn’t deserve a life sentence, just exactly WHAT does consitute one?
What is this world coming to??
My prayers are with the Wells’ family. I am so shocked and saddened over the whole thing. I agree with you Kishina, drug dealers and ect. receive more of a sentence than, a murderer. That is ridiculous.
Bless this family…
more than likely he cut a deal/plea bargain,so his time could have been reduce
I know it sucks,but courts are strange that way.
Example: a man kills 12 people,he faces the death penalty,but he has info on a major crime boss,enough to put that person away forever,he cuts a deal and his sentence is reduced to 20 years to life,and gets paroled after 15 years,what a world we live in
Try to think of it this way …it takes 12 ppl to totally agree to find a defendant guilty then to agree on a sentence for that person. If you have one..JUST one person who for what ever reason they may have that cant for some reson find that person guilty beyond a reasonable doubt or thinks that a death or life sentence is too harsh you take a chance of having a mistrial and or a hung jury which means you start all over again or the jury God-Forbid finds that peson innocent (IT HAS HAPPENED) then where’s the justice. The ppl who died in that crash arent gaged on worth by the amount of years the defendant gets in prison. No one says hey he only got 35 years so that means they are only worth 7 years each. The ppl who knew and loved them would beg to differ. and The Good Lord didnt tell them to wait out side the gates until after the trial was over to see what the defendant got before he determined if they could come into heaven now did he? Justice is a strange thing. it doesnt just go by the years spent in prison. its also runs much further then that. A gulity plea or sentence can follow you for the RST OF YOUR LIFE. keep you from obtaining things, doing things and the shame and stigmas it places on your head never fades. and then there’s the chance to be revoked if you mess up after you get out of prison. So even if a Person may not go away for life like you think they should, or get death or even as many years as you deem fit. ALWAYS remember that in the end its the Ultimate Judgement thats left to be faced.
I don’t understand why he was even given a plea deal. If the family is fine with that part than okay, but if the Prosecutor pushed it than that is very wrong. This man should never be allowed to walk the streets again or even know what freedom feels like. He chose to take the drugs and he chose to drive that truck, that family deserved much more from our Court system.