Bedell gets probation
By Lee Williams
Published in News on October 19, 2006 1:45 PM
The woman who drove the getaway car for two men who murdered a Goldsboro couple on New Year's Day in 2004, walked out of the Wayne County Courthouse a free woman Monday.
Alonza Sonye Bedell, 22, of Hunters Creek, was convicted of two counts of accessory after the fact on Jan. 19. Sentencing was delayed until after the Telly T. Cox double murder trial, which ended Sept. 22.
Miss Bedell's boyfriend, Chris Brown, 22, of Forest Knolls Road, and Cox, 24, of LaGrange, were sentenced to serve two consecutive life sentences for the murders of Christie Nicole Jones, 25, and Michael Shawn Maynard, 30.
Jones and Maynard were fatally shot at Maynard's home during an armed robbery.
Miss Bedell could have received up to 171/2 years in prison. However, Superior Court Judge Russell Lanier Jr. sentenced her to a maximum of 51/2 years in prison, but suspended the sentence.
Lanier added stiff stipulations to her sentence including curfew, drug screenings and work and school requirements. Also, if Miss Bedell gets into trouble while on probation, she could be sent to prison immediately, Lanier said.
Miss Bedell accepted the plea agreement under the condition she testify during the Cox trial. Brown also accepted a plea agreement, but Cox was the final holdout. Miss Bedell said she was ordered at gunpoint to drive the two men around after they had committed the crimes.