Woman who killed husband in 2017 is sentenced, plus other Fayette Co. court updates
Court cases stemming from several homicides in Central Kentucky moved through the court system in February as defendants pleaded guilty to crimes or had them dismissed altogether.
Developments included an elderly woman being sentenced after seven years of trial proceedings and another man sentenced for a fatal shooting after a car accident.
Here are updates on court cases previously covered by the Herald-Leader.
Carol Hignite sentenced after conviction in second trial
An elderly Lexington woman accused of killing her husband in 2017 was sentenced to a total of 11 years in prison following her manslaughter conviction in January.
Carol Hignite, 76, faced charges of murder, knowingly abuse/neglect and third-degree arson. She was ultimately found guilty of the lesser manslaughter charge instead of murder, and guilty of wanton neglect of an adult.
She was found not guilty of the arson charge, according to Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Kathryn Schafer.
At the time of her sentencing on Feb. 25, Hignite was behind bars since her arrest in 2017. She is eligible for parole in about a year and a half.
In a letter to the circuit judge Dianne Minnifield, Chris O’Bryan, a retired member of the Lexington Fire Department requested Hignite receive a harsher term of imprisonment.
“There should be no empathy for this convicted killer,” O’Bryan wrote.
Fayette County prosecutors argued that Hignite killed her 76-year-old husband, Leon Dewayne Hignite, with a hammer, left him dying for days, and then set their home on fire.
Hignite’s lawyers argued their client’s husband had severe health issues, fell in the bathroom and that the fire was a “weird” and accidental coincidence. Hignite’s first trial in December 2022 ended in a mistrial after jurors could not agree on a verdict for the murder charge.
Judge upholds jury’s recommended sentence from murder trial
A man charged with murder was sentenced to six years in prison after a jury convicted him of a lesser charge after a three-day trial.
Jerry Price, 42, was found guilty of second-degree manslaughter on Jan. 15. He was charged with killing 40-year-old Ricky Williams after a minor car accident in May 2022.
Testimony and video footage revealed Price and Williams were involved in a minor car accident. When they parked to exchange information, a verbal argument ensued and Price shot at Williams 13 times.
Price claimed Williams was aggressive and he heard the word “gun,” which prompted him to fire at Williams to protect him and his wife who was in the car at the time of the shooting.
Fayette Circuit Judge Kimberly Bunnell upheld the jury’s suggested prison sentence of six years at the sentencing on Feb. 28.
Two sentenced for amended charges in 18-year-old’s death
Two men were sentenced for their involvement in the death of an 18-year-old four years ago.
Michael Roland, 22, and Larry Stevenson III, 20, were charged with murder and robbery in the death of 18-year-old Montaye Mullins, according to police. Both had entered an Alford Plea.
Roland and Stevenson both received a six-year prison sentence for lesser charges on Feb. 28.
Mullins was shot early March 11, 2021, and was found by police at the intersection of Augusta Drive and Raleigh Road. Roland and Stevenson were picked up by police near where the homicide took place.
Multiple guns were found in the car, along with bags of marijuana, according to court records. Roland — who was 18 at the time of the shooting — entered an Alford plea for charges of second-degree complicity to manslaughter on Jan. 17.
Stevenson was 17 when he was charged. He entered an Alford plea for second-degree complicity to manslaughter on Jan. 10. The robbery charge was dismissed as part of the plea deal.
An Alford plea means defendants do not admit guilt but acknowledge prosecutors have enough evidence to convict them. The robbery charges were dismissed as part of their plea deal, according to court documents.
