Greenville, MS- Washington County resident Wadarren Lawrence pled guilty to Second Degree Murder in Washington County Circuit Court, District Attorney W. Dewayne Richardson announced today.
Richardson said, “Wadarren Lawrence was set for trial on this week of court, but instead he pled guilty before Judge Margaret Carey-McCray on Monday.” Wadarren Lawrence was indicted by the April 2016 Grand Jury.
Lawrence was sentence for the February 2015 killing of Jaylon Vaughn. In what can only be termed a senseless killing, the defendant and the victim had been attending a party when words were exchanged. Lawrence, then pulled out a firearm and shot and killed Vaughn, who was 17 years old at the time of his death.
Judge McCray sentenced Lawrence to the District Attorney’s recommendation of 30 years in the custody of Mississippi Department of Corrections with 25 of those years to serve for the offense of Second Degree Murder. The remaining 5 years will be served on Post-Release Supervision with the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Lawrence also received a seven year sentence with the Mississippi Department of Corrections for an unrelated charge that he pled guilty to at the same time.
Pursuant to Mississippi state law, defendants sentenced for Second Degree Murder must serve every day of their sentence and are not eligible for early release. This case was investigated by the Greenville Police Department; the District Attorney’s office appreciates their hard work in helping to remove another violent criminal from the streets of Greenville and Washington County.
Contact: W. Dewayne Richardson
District Attorney, Fourth Circuit Court District | 662-378-2105