Locke guilty on all counts
By BRAD KELLAR
Herald-Banner Staff
Cory Joe Locke was found guilty by a jury Thursday of murder in connection with the shooting death of Michael Patrick Bates.
Locke was also found guilty by the panel of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, aggravated kidnapping and burglary of a habitation. He could face a maximum life sentence on each of the counts except the burglary charge, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for 3 p.m. today before 354th District Court Judge Richard A. Beacom.
Locke showed no emotion when the verdicts were read Thursday afternoon. He was immediately taken from the courtroom and lead back to the Hunt County Jail.
The jury deliberated about three hours before reaching the unanimous decisions on each of the four charges.
Bates, 43, died as the result of a shotgun wound to the chest. His body was found early on the morning of June 2, 2005 in a residence at 1959 Apache Road near Quinlan.
Locke was one of three suspects charged in connection with Bates’ death, the abduction and robbery at gunpoint of another man prior to the shooting and the stealing of a pool table and other items from Bates’ residence the night before the murder. He had pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Dena Waldon and James Paul Russell Jr. have also been indicted on charges of murder, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery in connection with the case.
Russell has a trial pending, while Waldon agreed to testify against Locke and Russell in exchange for being allowed to plead guilty only to the aggravated robbery charge and receiving a probated sentence.
Donna Jones recalled a favorite memory of her late brother, Michael Patrick Bates, as she testified during the sentencing phase of the man convicted of killing him.
Jones remembered a family trip to the Grand Canyon, followed by a visit to a desert in Utah where her Jeep got stuck in the sand. Bates, described as a jack of all trades, rallied the group to find sticks, bottles and anything else he could use to help free the vehicle.
“That’s what he did,” Jones said. “He made things work.”
Cory Joe Locke was sentenced Friday to 50 years in prison for Bates’ murder. He received 20 years in prison for separate charges of aggravated robbery and aggravated kidnapping involving a second victim and 10 years in prison for burglarizing Bates’ residence.
Assistant District Attorney Carol Day-Moss said it was nice to see justice done for Bates and for Bates’ family.
“Especially when there was just absolute, senseless violence in this case,” Day-Moss said.
Locke, 29, will have to spend at least 25 years in prison before being eligible for parole on the murder charge.
Bates, 43, died as the result of a shotgun wound to the chest. His body was found early on the morning of June 2, 2005, in a residence at 1959 Apache Road near Quinlan.
Locke was one of three suspects charged in connection with Bates’ death, the abduction and robbery at gunpoint of another man prior to the shooting and the stealing of a pool table and other items from Bates’ residence the night before the murder.
Dena Waldon and James Paul Russell Jr. have also been indicted on charges of murder, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery in connection with the case.
Russell has a trial pending, while Waldon agreed to testify against Locke and Russell in exchange for being allowed to plead guilty only to the aggravated robbery charge and receiving a probated sentence.
Locke was found guilty on all counts by a jury Thursday and chose to have 354th District Court Judge Richard A. Beacom determine his punishment. Locke could have received up to life in prison for the murder, robbery and kidnapping charges and up to 20 years in prison on the burglary conviction.
At the start of Friday’s punishment hearing, Assistant District Attorney Keli Aiken asked for the maximum sentence on all counts.
“This was an act of senseless violence your honor, several senseless acts,” Aiken said.
In addition to Bates’ family members, the prosecution called a detention officer with the Hunt County Sheriff’s Office who described an incident which occurred about a month after Locke was taken into custody, when he attacked both her and another officer in the jail.
Defense attorney Royal Mullins called Locke’s mother to the stand, who related how the defendant was on several anti-psychotic medications and who asked the judge to place Locke in a medical institution where he could receive treatment.
Mullins also asked the judge to review Locke’s lack of a felony record and to consider how there did not appear to be any intent to commit murder in the case. Rather, Mullins said, Locke intended to “get back” at someone and events got out of hand.
“We’re asking the court to punish Cory for what his actions were in these offenses,” Mullins said, also directing much of the blame for Bates’ death at Russell. “Cory was not the leader or the mastermind of some criminal event.”
Beacom said his decision regarding Locke was a difficult one personally, as he had known both the defendant and his family for many years.
“But my job is not who I know,” Beacom said. “I have to look at the matter objectively.”
Beacom said Locke “actively and aggressively” participated in Bates’ murder and the other offenses, which is why he was sentencing Locke to prison.
