BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Sentencing was issued on Wednesday for the 2021 murder of a 7-year-old boy by Rashad Thompson of Raleigh County.
The sentencing follows a guilty verdict issued on Thursday, November 10 by Raleigh Circuit Court Judge H.L. Kirkpatrick after a 2-hour deliberation from the jury.
Testimony for the trial began Tuesday, Nov 1, 2022, with jury selection occurring the previous day, Monday, October 1, 2022.
The incident in question occurred last March at the Lewis Ritchie Apartments located at 408 Industrial Drive in Beckley, and saw Thompson – 35 at the time – attack Felicia Brown – 24 at the time, and with whom Thompson had been staying – with a knife.
Thompson was offered a plea deal by Hatfield in March which, if accepted, would’ve seen Thompson plead guilty to first degree murder.
This deal was declined in June, and Thompson has subsequently been found guilty and seen sentencing for six counts including that of First-Degree Murder, for which a sentence of life in prison with mercy was issued, meaning that Thompson could be eligible for parole with regard to this charge specifically after serving 15 years in prison.
Thompson also received sentencing on two counts of Domestic Battery – each warranting a one-year sentence, one count of Malicious Wounding – no less than two and no more than 10 years, one count of Attempted Murder – no less than three and no more than 15 years, and one count of Child Abuse Resulting in Death – 15 years to life, according to Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hatfield.
Hatfield says that these charges equate to a 35 years-to-life sentence for Thompson.
The defense has indicated their intention to appeal the sentencing, which they must do within 30 days.
Additional LOOTPRESS coverage for Raleigh County can be found here.
