Lexington man pleads guilty in 2023 murder, plus other Fayette County court updates
Three cases involving Central Kentucky homicides moved through the court system in October as defendants were sentenced or pleaded guilty to crimes.
Developments included a Lexington man pleading guilty to amended charges for murder and women sentenced for their part in a child’s fatal August 2023 overdose.
Here are updates on court cases previously covered by the Herald-Leader.
Deonte Demarcus Carter
A man charged in connection in two fatal Lexington shootings has pleaded guilty to one and is expected to plead guilty to another.
Deonte Demarcus Carter, 27, entered an Alford plea Oct. 10 to an amended charge of second-degree complicity to commit murder in the 2023 murder of Kobby Martin, 26.
An Alford plea is a guilty plea in which the defendant maintains their innocence, but admits the prosecution’s evidence would likely result in a guilty verdict if brought to trial.
Carter was originally charged with murder and as a persistent felony offender related to the January 2023 shooting of Martin.
Court records say forensic detectives searched Carter’s vehicle, which was reportedly stolen, and found a large amount of blood in the back seat. The blood matched the standard for Martin, according to forensic testing. Electronic evidence, such as phone calls, text messages and location data, also connected Carter to the crime, according to court documents.
Carter has also been charged with the December 2021 murder of Devon Sandusky, 21.
Lexington police said officers were called to the 800 block of Oak Hill Drive, off Loudon Avenue, just before 11 p.m. Dec. 17, 2021, for unknown reasons. Upon arrival, police found Sandusky dead from a gunshot wound at an area residence.
According to Detective Tim Moore of the Lexington Police Department, multiple piece of evidence helped identify Carter as the shooter, including social media interactions and forensic evidence.
Moore previously testified a bullet extracted from Sandusky’s head matched a gun Carter possessed during a previous arrest. He was also in possession of the car used to leave the scene of the Oak Hill Drive shooting when he was detained less than one month later.
Carter admitted to knowing Sandusky, and Moore testified their relationship involved narcotics.
Court documents indicate Carter is scheduled for a change of plea hearing Friday, Oct. 31. His sentencing for Martins’ death is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 4.
Raven Houston and Briana Turpin
Two defendants have pleaded guilty in October in connection to a 4-year-old’s death from a fentanyl overdose.
On Oct. 13, Briana Turpin, 28, and Raven Houston, 20, were sentenced to a range of amended charges. A third person, Anderson George, 30, has also been charged in the child’s death, but not yet been sentenced.
Fayette Circuit Judge Diane Minnifield sentenced Houston to three years probation for a count of trafficking in a controlled substance — drug unspecified, according to court documents.
Turpin was sentenced to seven years in prison for charges of complicity to wanton endangerment, complicity to trafficking in controlled substances — fentanyl, and complicity to tamper with physical evidence. Two of her charges were dismissed as part of her plea.
The three were originally charged with second-degree manslaughter, trafficking fentanyl and two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment. George and Turpin were also indicted on a charge of tampering with physical evidence.
Lexington police say the child died Feb. 26, 2023, at a hospital.
The three were identified as suspects during the investigation, and detectives found evidence of drug trafficking at a residence on Bracktown Road.
George was pulled over for a traffic stop on I-75 at the request of a detective. Police searched the vehicle, because they reportedly could smell marijuana, and found approximately 100 grams of suspected fentanyl in the air filter box of the engine compartment, plus roughly 500 grams of cutting agents, according to court documents.
He pleaded guilty to complicity to wanton endangerment and complicity to tamper with physical evidence. Charges of trafficking fentanyl and two counts of complicity to wanton endangerment will be dismissed as part of the plea agreement. George faces 10 years in prison, and his sentencing is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 5.
