Last co-defendant enters plea in Scott County attempted murder case
GATE CITY — A Lee County woman was convicted in Scott County Circuit Court this week for her role in a botched attempt to rob and murder her boyfriend’s grandparents in 2009.
Taylor Renee Gilmer, 22, Pennington Gap, entered an Alford plea — also known as a best interest plea — Wednesday to a single count of conspiring to commit a felony and two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder as a result of her participation in the failed plot.
“Thank goodness no one was hurt. But their intent, and what they attempted to do, was brutal,” Scott County Commonwealth’s Attorney Marcus McClung said. “But we’re happy to be able to gain convictions for everyone involved and see justice done.”
Gilmer is scheduled to be sentenced in circuit court April 17. She faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. A three-day jury trial had been scheduled for Gilmer prior to her guilty plea.
Two co-defendants in the case entered guilty pleas in 2010, and one of them has already been sentenced.
Co-defendant Donovan Ray Meade pleaded guilty in June 2010 to two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and one count each of conspiracy to break and enter an occupied dwelling and attempted grand larceny.
Meade was sentenced in September 2010 to eight years in state prison.
Gilmer’s then-boyfriend, Christopher Wayne Jones, 19, Pennington Gap, entered guilty pleas in February 2010 to two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, two counts of solicitation of first-degree murder, and one count each of conspiracy to break and enter and solicitation to break and enter to commit larceny.
Jones is set for sentencing March 2, although that date could be changed.
Gilmer, Meade and Jones were arrested in September 2009 after Scott County authorities said they hatched a plot to murder Jones’ grandparents and steal belongings from their Duffield home.
Authorities said Meade went to the home and made two unsuccessful attempts to enter it before trying to steal a car parked outside.
The teenagers fled after Jones’ grandfather come out of the house and fired a warning shot over their vehicle.
McClung said Gilmer had a large role in planning the murder-for-hire and theft plot.
The teens had planned to sell items stolen in the break-in for money, authorities said.
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