Wayne County Outlook

Maupin pleads guilty to charges in circuit court
Melodie Phelps
News Editor

One of the five defendants charged in connection with the May 2004

beating death of an elderly Wayne County man has pleaded guilty. George

Maupin pled guilty to complicity to commit murder, robbery first degree and

assault first degree during an appearance in Wayne Circuit Court on Tuesday,

February 21.

Commonwealth Attorney Larry Rogers has recommended a sentence of life in

prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years on the charge of

complicity to commit murder. He also recommended a sentence of 20 years each

for Maupin's guilty plea to robbery first degree and assault first degree.

As a condition of his plea, Maupin will testify against other

co-defendants set for trial in this matter in September, according to

Rogers.

According to the Commonwealth's offer for the guilty plea, the three

sentences will run concurrently for a total sentence of life without the

possibility of parole for 25 years.

All the charges stem from the beating death of William Wells, Sr. and

the assault and robbery of his son, William Wells, Jr., at a rural

residence. Maupin was one of the original defendants arrested in the case,

along with Richard Taylor, Jr. and Kathi Shelton. Taylor and Maupin were

originally charged with murder, robbery and assault and Shelton was charged

with complicity to murder, complicity to robbery, and assault first degree.

Two other arrests have been made in connection with the case. Scotty

Upchurch was charged with complicity to murder and complicity to robbery.

Beth Miller was charged with complicity to robbery.

Upchurch and Taylor are scheduled to go to trial in September, according

to court records. Both remain lodged in the Wayne County Detention Center.

Shelton is released on bond and charges are still pending against her,

according to court records. She is set for a jury trial January 10, 2007.

Miller is also out on bond and according to court records a review is

set in her case for April 4. She is additionally charged with complicity to

manufacture methamphetamine.

Formal sentencing for Maupin is set for March 22 in Wayne Circuit Court.

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