Jason Thomas Loftis was sentenced to 30 years in prison, following a sentencing hearing on Thursday in Halifax County Circuit Court, for the December 1999 murder of Joseph McArthur Barnett.
Because Loftis was a juvenile at the time of the shooting, Judge Charles L. McCormick III, presiding judge at Loftis' trial, pronounced sentence for the 18-year-old Alton resident.
Loftis received 20 years in prison for the murder of Barnett, three years for the use of a firearm to commit murder, and seven years for conspiring to commit murder.
Loftis and alleged co-conspirator Michael David Moore, also of Alton, were originally indicted last May for the December 1999 slaying of Barnett in the driveway of his Alton horse farm.
Moore was released from custody last July, after the Commonwealth elected to "nol pross" the charges against him.
According to Commonwealth's Attorney John Greenbacker, one of the reasons for his decision to nol pross Moore's case was Loftis' refusal to turn state's evidence against Moore.
According to prosecution evidence presented at Loftis' original trial last November, Loftis and Moore worked for Barnett at his horse farm in 1999, during which time "bad blood" developed.
Commonwealth's Attorney John Greenbacker stated that the reasons for the falling out were the alleged theft of a quantity of marijuana from Barnett by Loftis, and an alleged romantic relationship between Moore and Barnett's girlfriend, Andrea Gowen Sandel.
The two youths, according to Greenbacker, "conspired to stage a pre-emptive strike," on December 15, by arming themselves with shotguns and waiting next to Barnett's driveway for his return.
Greenbacker then made reference to a statement given by Loftis to a law enforcement officer, in which Loftis said that Moore raised his gun to fire first, but that it misfired. Loftis then successfully fired his shotgun.
Barnett died as a result of shotgun wounds to the head nine days later at Duke University Medical Center.
Loftis' original trial, continued from July 2000 in order for the court to determine Loftis' competence to stand trial, took place in November.
Judge McCormick declared a mistrial after a jury deadlocked on the three felony charges against Loftis, with the trial rescheduled for January.
Other Thursday Court
· David Arthur Canada, 33, of Halifax, was sentenced on Thursday to 12 months each in prison for two misdemeanor convictions of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and to two years, six months in prison for conspiring to commit a felony.
Canada's convictions stemmed from the September 30, 1999 robbery attempt at One Valley Bank (now BB&T) on Wilborn Avenue in South Boston.
Judge McCormick ordered Canada's misdemeanor sentences to run concurrently, and suspended all but one year and six months of the conspiracy sentence, for an effective prison sentence of two years and six months.
The court ordered the suspended portions of Canada's sentences to be conditional on his good behavior for ten years following his release.
· James Franklin Flory II, 40, of South Boston, was sentenced on Thursday to five years each in prison for two counts of aggravated sexual battery.
The court suspended all but 12 months of Flory's sentence, conditional on his good behavior for 10 years upon his release from incarceration.
A three-year probationary period was ordered for Flory by the court, as well as counseling and Flory's registration as a sex offender.
The court additionally authorized work release for Flory.
· David Walter Griffin, 38, of South Boston, was convicted on Thursday of failing to comply with court orders.
The court revoked one year of Griffin's previously suspended prison sentence, and ordered Griffin to undergo drug counseling.
· Tamika Shavon Powell, 21, of South Boston, was convicted on Thursday of a probation violation.
The court revoked one year of Powell's suspended prison sentence, and ordered six months of that time to be served concurrently with a previous sentence.
· Jeremy Antwan Hutcherson, 20, of South Boston, Robert Henry Perkins, 20, of Halifax and Theodore David Watkins, 24, of South Boston, pleaded guilty on Thursday to an amended indictment of misdemeanor assault and battery of Dwayne Lawson, after a bench trial before Judge William L. Wellons.
All three were sentenced to six months in jail, and to make restitution jointly and severally to the victim or the hospital within 90 days of their release from custody.
Other Court
Stanley Tyrone Palmer, 22, of Nathalie, was convicted recently after a bench trial in Halifax County Circuit Court of two charges including the burning of an occupied dwelling and the burning of a mobile home/trailer, the property of Vincent Adams.
Judge Leslie M. Osborn remanded Palmer to custody pending a presentence report due for the May term of court.

Ten Halifax County residents were arrested last week by the Halifax/South Boston Regional Narcotic Enforcement Task Force on 30 drug-related charges.
· Christopher Neil Wilmouth, 27, of Alton, was charged with one count of the possession of cocaine, one count of the possession of marijuana and one count of the possession of a firearm while in possession of cocaine.
Wilmouth was released under a $15,000 secured bond.
· Nakeitha Michelle Edmonds, 23, of South Boston, was charged with one count of the possession of a oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance.
Edmunds was released under a $5,000 unsecured bond.
· Louis Elmer Conner Jr., 29, of South Boston, was charged with one count of manufacturing marijuana, one count of possession with the intent to distribute marijuana and one count of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana.
Conner was released under a $10,000 secured bond.
· Scott Strickland Raab, 20, of South Boston, was charged with one count of manufacturing marijuana, one count of the possession with the intent to distribute marijuana and one count of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana.
Raab was released under a $10,000 secured bond.
· Timothy Wallace Puryear, 39, of South Boston, was charged with two counts of the distribution of cocaine and one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
Puryear was released under a $25,000 secured bond.
· Thomas Wayne Lowery, 49, of Alton, was charged with two counts of the distribution of cocaine.
Lowery was released under a $5,000 secured bond.
· Jeffrey Keith Daniel, 33, of Vernon Hill, was charged with three counts of the distribution of cocaine and one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
Daniel is incarcerated in the Halifax Adult Detention Center under no bond.
· Ronald Lee Rickmond, 41, of Scottsburg, was charged with one count of the distribution of marijuana.
Rickmond was released under a $10,000 secured bond.
· Kevin Wayne Talbott, 23, of Alton, was charged with five counts of the distribution of cocaine and one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
Talbott was released under a $75,000 secured bond.
· Leon Martin, 46, of Riverdale Drive in South Boston, was charged with three counts of the distribution of cocaine and one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
Martin is incarcerated in the Halifax Adult Detention Center under no bond.
According to a press release issued by the Task Force, additional arrests are anticipated as other suspects are sought for various drug violations.
SoBo Seeks Tultex Taxes

South Boston is seeking about $11,000 in delinquent real estate taxes that the bankrupt Tultex Corp. owes, while Roxboro is pursuing over $100,000 in taxes.
However, no real estate taxes are owed the county, according to Halifax County Treasurer's books, a spokesman said Friday.
"We will get that eventually," Vandie Saunders, South Boston finance officer, said Friday.
But Saunders does not expect to collect the $3,000 to $4,000 that Tultex owes South Boston in machinery and tool taxes.
"We will not get that," declared Saunders. "Those debts are dischargeable for bankruptcy."
Personal property taxes also are owed the county for 1999 and 2000.
Nick Herman, City of Roxboro attorney, left a March 22 meeting between the company's attorneys and creditors optimistic about collection of some of the taxes for his client but uncertain about others, according to reports in The Courier-Times of Roxboro.
Tultex owes Roxboro $119,000 in taxes from 1999 and over $35,000 from 2000,
However, the $119,000 figure includes taxes on both real estate and personal property, while the $35,000 figure represents tax on the Tultex buildings, according to the report.
Roxboro is attempting to collect the taxes through bankruptcy court in Virginia.
Attorney Chandler Nelson is representing South Boston in its bid to collect taxes due the town from Tultex.
Saunders said Friday that the town has received no word on a Tultex payment plan.
The Tultex plant in South Boston closed in early December of 1999. About 400 employees lost jobs as the company filed for bankruptcy.
Along with South Boston's plant, five other Tultex manufacturing facilities in Virginia and North Carolina were closed.

A small aircraft transportation system under development by NASA, designed to help businessmen and regional residents make better and cheaper air connections, will be the focus of a business fair tomorrow at the Dan River Business Development Center.
The Small Aircraft Transportation System (STATS), under development the past decade, is conceived as a safe travel alternative, freeing people and products from existing transportation system delays, by creating access to more communities in less time.
"Back last summer, they announced that the Danville Airport received a grant through NASA to accommodate SATS," said Bill Confroy, local IDA executive director.
"NASA is working with aircraft manufacturers to design planes for commuter transportation. It's an exciting project for rural areas like ourselves to have this as an option."
The SATS system will be the subject of a 3 p.m. briefing at the airport by NASA Langley's Dr. Bruce Holmes and Kenneth Wiegand, director of the Virginia Department of Aviation.
Danville Regional Airport has been chosen as one of five prototype SATS airports in Virginia.
Holmes, head of a NASA Langley research team, recognized the impending "gridlock" and "hublock" afflicting our nation's highways and airways a decade ago.
Holmes' research team has been developing a small aircraft transportation system (SATS), which will allow executives and average citizens to fly 200 to 700 miles conveniently and affordably on a regular basis.
The Lancair 300, first in a group of experimental aircraft which will be used to demonstrate advanced small aircraft technologies, will be on display at Danville Regional Airport, from 1 to 5 p.m.
At 1 p.m. at the Development Center, Langley Research Center will provide participants an opportunity for one-on-one discussions and informative talks in the following areas -
· Understand research opportunities available at NASA Langley through its Small Business Innovation Research program.
· Companies both large and small seeking to do business with NASA learn how to bid on contracts.
· Learn about technologies developed by NASA that are available for licensing by companies.
· Learn about opportunities to partner with NASA on some of its most interesting projects.
"This is a rare opportunity for business to learn and work with and do business first-hand with NASA," said Linwood Duncan, of Congressman Virgil Goode's Danville office.
"It will make them (small businesses) aware of the patents and technologies through NASA.
"NASA has taken a keen interest in the Fifth District. They see Danville as a key part of the SATS network in Virginia."
A chief aim of the program, according to Duncan, is to utilize the approximately 10,000 smaller local airports in the United States, currently not served by scheduled air service.
SATS would operate within the National Airspace System, utilizing initially about 5,400 existing public-use landing facilities.
Scheduled air carriers serve only about 660 of these facilities.
A total of over 18,000 landing facilities serve a vast number of communities in the United States. Ultimately, essentially all of those facilities could employ SATS operating capabilities.
With funding of $69 million from the United States Congress, NASA Langley is now beginning the testing of the feasibility of STATS, with Virginia and Florida the lead project states.
Duncan said that he believed development of the SATS technology is on a "fast track, with implementation within the next five years."
In order to get to the Dan River Business Development Center, follow U.S. 58 to Kentuck Rd. (one traffic light east of Danville Regional Airport), and follow it to Ringgold Business Parkway, at the furthest end of the Ringgold Industrial Park.
After turning left, the Business Development Center will be about a half-mile on the right.

Let Myrtle Beach have its NASCAR Cafe, South Boston's got Ziggy's.
No flashing neon lights here.
Gentlemen can't even reach the facilities without having to walk outside and "round the corner" of the restaurant.
Ziggy's occupies just half of a building near the intersection of U.S. 501 and 360/58 in Riverdale, in the shadows, actually, of Burger King, Hardee's, McDonald's and Shoney's.
Jean Daniel and her first husband, Ezel Zickafoose, for whom the restaurant was named, opened the restaurant in 1955. After they split up, he went to work for the Department of Corrections but she just kept cooking at Ziggy's.
"I love it!" said Jean, who vowed to stay right where she is "as long as I can stand on my feet...or 'til they throw me out."
Jean and her daughter, Bonnie, lease the visibly sagging, white clapboard, triple-dormered building that once functioned as a service station. The gas pump concrete island still stands just a few feet from the step-up entrance to the restaurant.
Inside, uncushioned booths line the walls and pedestal stools with spinning seats provide counter customers a limited view of the kitchen where ripening tomatoes fill the sill of a single window above the sink.
Many of the names of four generations of customers are carved into the booths where, on most Friday and Saturday nights, there's standing room only.
Jean and Bonnie are motorsport racing fans. There's hardly a spot on the walls or the ceiling where a photo or racing poster isn't plastered.
The wall behind the cash register that leads into the kitchen is dedicated to those drivers who have lost their lives in the sport.
"I don't have a wall large enough to hold them all now. It's so sad," said Jean.
Ziggy's has been a popular stop for both drivers and fans heading to and leaving nearby South Boston Speedway. Among Ziggy's faithful are the Burton brothers, Ward and Jeff.
Ziggy's makes the claim that it was here the first pizza was made and served in a South Boston restaurant.
"I'd never seen one," said Jean who remembers how their first pizza was prepared with frozen crust. "We threw it in the trash can."
It was a kitchen worker who came up with the ingredients ­ a secret recipe now ­ that met the taste test and to this day, it has never changed. Jean admits that Ziggy's pizza is greasy. "But they love it!"
The South Boston landmark may reach a new level of notoriety following an article that appeared recently in "Motor Sports" magazine. And Fox and Home Team Sports (HTS) networks have filmed and plan to air a short clip on Ziggy's.
The next scheduled viewing is April 16 at 8:00 p.m. on local cable channel 58.
Not all of her customers know that Jean Daniel enjoys singing. She's been singing all of her life but not until a few years ago did her pastor, Don Bryant, persuade Jean to sing a solo at Southside Baptist Church.
Since then, she's been a regular during worship services, revivals and funerals.
In 1989, Jean, a diabetic, contracted cancer, and three years ago she underwent a cornea transplant. Today, the vision in her other eye is diminished and she is in need of a second transplant.
Through it all, she's managed to keep a positive attitude. "My faith keeps me going," she said.

Kelvin Davis preaches the importance of playing aggressive baseball to his Halifax County squad.
Aggressive baseball and perfect execution on a suicide bunt squeeze play by Matt Hastings and Brandon Howerton in the bottom of the sixth inning gave the Comets a 2-1 win over defending Western District champion Albemarle here Friday night.
"It was a case of having the right people in the right spot at the right time," said Davis after his team picked up its second Western District win in as many district games.
"Matt sees the ball well and I had Brandon on third base. It was well executed."
The win over Albemarle, the team the Comets lost to last year in the Western District Tournament championship game and bowed to again in the semifinals of the Northwest Region Tournament, left the Comets' unblemished season intact with a 5-0 overall record and a 2-0 slate in Western District play.
"This is a big win for us, especially when we talk about the tournament last year," Davis said.
"This is a tough district. Anytime you can get a good jump start like this, it will help going down the stretch."
With the game tied 1-1, Howerton, the ninth man in the batting order, led off with a single.
David Green struck out and Nick Thompson reached base safely on an error that allowed Howerton to scramble to third base.
Davis called the suicide squeeze and Howerton broke for home plate. Hastings laid down a perfect bunt leaving Albemarle hurler Derek Wilson no choice but to field it and fire the ball to first base to nab Hastings.
Howerton slid across the plate with the game-winning run as Wilson made the throw to first base.
Albemarle coach Jim Garnett gave the Comets credit for pulling off the big play.
"You can guess these things all day long," he said.
"When it works, it's a good play. It worked for them today."
While the suicide squeeze proved to be the game-winning play, the Comets came up with some big plays on defense that were huge plays in the game.
Comets first baseman Justin Shepperd played one of the best games, if not the game, of his career, making two plays that thwarted Albemarle scoring attempts.
In addition to making the big defensive stops, Shepperd hit a double to left centerfield in the bottom of the second inning to plate Mike Priest to give the Comets a 1-0 lead that held up until the sixth inning.
The first big play came in the top of the fourth inning with the Comets leading 1-0 with runners on second base and third base with two out.
Shortstop R.D. Cole made a good play on a sharply hit ground ball by Albemarle's Tyler Zimmerman but his throw to Shepperd at first base sailed high and wide.
Shepperd made a big play to catch the ball and nab Zimmerman to get the out and end the inning.
Shepperd's biggest play came in the top of the sixth inning after the Patriots' leadoff hitter Deven Mullinex singled, Wilson reached base on an error and a double by Derek Malikian plated Mullinex to tie the game at 1-1 with no out.
Scott Adams came on to relieve Comets starter Justin King at that point.
Then, with two strikes on him, Albemarle's Pete Chandler hit a ground ball to Shepperd at first base.
Shepperd made a good play on the ball, tagged the base to get the out and fired the ball to Mike Priest at third base in time to pick off Wilson who had initially broken toward home plate only to turn back to third base.
That play got the Comets two outs and erased the threat of the base runner at third base.
Adams fanned the next Albemarle batter, Drew Atchison, to end the inning.
"They were great defensive plays," Davis said.
"Shepperd's been doing it all year. He's also hitting the ball really well and is one of the team leaders in batting averages. The big plays are going to go Shepperd's way."
Garnett said the sixth-inning play was a big one in the outcome of the game.
"I thought we had a good chance to pick up a run or two in that inning," said Garnett.
"We had runners on second and third with no out. We made a base running mistake that, in our mind, cost us a big inning."
The big defensive stop set the stage for the Comets' big game-winning squeeze play in the bottom of the inning.
Along with the defense, the Comets got a good performance from the pitching tandem of King and Adams.
King allowed four hits, one walk and struck out three while facing 20 batters through five and two thirds innings.
"I'm real pleased with his performance," Davis said.
"I talked to Justin about the game and the situation and he said 'coach, I can handle it, I want to pitch. He took the ball and went after the batters. We just didn't make the plays behind him."
Adams came on in relief of King and struck out two of the six batters he faced. He allowed no walks and no hits.
"He came in and did what he's been doing all year," Davis said.
The Comets had four hits in the game with Greene, Priest, Shepperd and Howerton coming up with a hit each.

James William Comer, 80, of 621 Berry Hill Road, South Boston, died April 13 at Berry Hill Nursing Home.
Mr. Comer was born in Halifax County on March 19, 1921, the son of the late Richard Henry Comer and Hettie Talley Comer. He was a member of Dan River Baptist Church.
Funeral services will be held today, at Dan River Baptist Church at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Paul King officiating. Burial will follow in Grace Baptist Church Cemetery, Virgilina.
Survivors of Mr. Comer include two brothers, Fauntly D. Comer of South Boston and Richard Comer of Harve-Grace, Md.; and 14 nieces and nephews.

Patricia Snow Hite, 57, of 3002 Dan River Church Road, South Boston, died April 14 at her home.
Mrs. Hite was born in Halifax County on May 12, 1943, the daughter of Luther H. Snow and Mary Tatum Snow, and was married to Jimmy D. Hite. She was a member of South Boston Church of God, serving as a Sunday school teacher, senior adult coordinator, youth director and with the State Church of God Youth Camps. She was a volunteer at Halifax Regional Hospital, and a partner of Airport Truck & Equipment Sales.
A funeral service will be held at South Boston Church of God today at 2 p.m. with Dr. Bill Leonard, the Revs. Don Fox and Tommy Dale Fuquay conducting the service. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Survivors of Mrs. Hite include her husband; her father; her stepmother, Mabel Snow of South Boston; one daughter, Wanda Hite Thompson and her husband, Cyril of Knoxville, Tenn.; two sons, Timothy Wayne Hite and his wife, Julie, and Thomas Dale Hite and his wife, Melinda, all of South Boston; one sister, Frances S. Jones of South Boston; one brother, Roger Snow of Halifax; and five grandchildren, Kerri, Nicholas and Kelly Thompson, Thomas Dale Jr. and Gabrielle Breanne Hite.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Gideons.