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It's life times 4 in man's slaying

The judge gives the convicted man four concurrent life sentences in the shooting death during a robbery that netted about $55.

By COLLEEN JENKINS
Published September 1, 2006

TAMPA - Circuit Judge Barbara Fleischer came to court Thursday morning knowing she would sentence a man to life in prison. The law bound her to it.

But she had a few things to say first.

"How old are you?" she asked Wilson Angelo Graham.

"Twenty-five, your honor," he said softly.

The judge shook her head.

"It's just so sad," she said. "The lack of value you have for life is so sad."

On Wednesday, Graham had come to court in a dark, dignified suit. That night, a jury found him guilty of killing and robbing a Plant City man. Thursday, Graham wore an orange jail jumpsuit and handcuffs.

Jackay Lee Kelley Sr., 51, had been drinking beers at his buddy Sam Pelham's house on June 11, 2005.

When the two men went around the side of the house to relieve themselves, they were accosted at gunpoint by Graham and Charles Edward Thomas Jr.

Plant City police said that Graham and Kelley got into a scuffle. Two shots later, Kelley was dead.

Thomas told Plant City police the men had planned to rob Pelham's son. They got about $55 from Pelham's wallet.

Thomas testified against Graham this week and is expected to serve 20 years in prison for his role in the crime.

A jury found Graham, who has previous felony convictions, guilty late Wednesday of first-degree murder, robbery, attempted robbery and burglary of a dwelling.

After ironing out some legal details Thursday morning, the judge sentenced Graham to four concurrent life sentences, one for each charge.

"For a few dollars, you took somebody's life," Fleischer said. "And essentially, the state is going to take yours, although you'll live it out until your last day in prison."

Colleen Jenkins can be reached at 813 226-3337 or cjenkins@sptimes.com.

[Last modified September 1, 2006, 01:22:18]