16-year-old sentenced to 20 years for fatal shooting

<p>A 16-year-old who was arrested earlier this month in Kentucky with a teenage companion after they allegedly fled Georgia in a stolen truck was sentenced to 20 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter.</p><p>Ryan Scott McCrickard, 16, pleaded guilty on Monday and was sentenced, with 15 years to serve after he reaches adulthood, said Polk County Superior Court Judge Michael L. Murphy. He had been scheduled to go on trial Dec. 5.</p><p>He was charged with killing William Lucas, 51. Around midnight on June 27, 2003, McCrickard entered Lucas' home and shot him in the head with a .357-caliber handgun as he slept, said Donnie Canada, former Polk County police investigator.</p><p>Canada said he believes the killing was tied to allegations Lucas molested a stepdaughter who was McCrickard's girlfriend at the time. The girl later recanted those allegations.</p><p>McCrickard was released from the Polk County Jail after posting a $100,000 bond. He later met Jesseca Williamson, 16, at an Atlanta drug rehabilitation center.</p><p>Police said after their release, McCrickard burglarized his brother-in-law's Cedartown home, then went to Forsyth in his mother's car to pick up Williamson.</p><p>A Levi's Call was issued on Oct. 31 but canceled after they reportedly broke into a Carnesville home and stole a pickup truck.</p><p>They were arrested Nov. 5 in Lexington, Ky., after the truck was impounded, police said.</p><p>In addition to the charges from Carnesville, McCrickard faces charges in Cedartown of burglary, theft by receiving stolen property, possession of a firearm by a person younger than 18 and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.</p><p>McCrickard's attorney, Rex Abernathy, could not be reached for comment.</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x2865a90)</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/11/156229