A Jonesboro man who admitted to killing another man in 2021 will not serve prison time for the crime, following a court ruling that imposed a suspended sentence instead.
Dangelo Yandell Lewis pleaded guilty on August 18 to second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Devonte Wesson, who died four days after being shot in the head near the Southside Softball Complex in November 2021.
According to court documents, Wesson had been sitting in a vehicle with Lewis and another individual when the shooting occurred. A witness later identified Lewis as the shooter. He was originally arrested for first-degree murder, but the charge was reduced during legal proceedings.
Judge Kimberly Bibb of the Second Judicial Circuit sentenced Lewis to 180 months of suspended imposition of sentence (SIS), meaning he will avoid prison as long as he complies with the terms of his release.
Additional charges against Lewis—terroristic act and criminal mischief—were dropped as part of the sentencing deal.
While awaiting trial for the murder charge, Lewis was also arrested for drug-related offenses, including possession with intent to deliver Schedule VI and Schedule I/II controlled substances. He pleaded guilty to those charges on August 20, receiving 120 months SIS for each count.
In a separate matter, Lewis was sentenced on August 4 to 36 months in the Arkansas Department of Corrections, with 401 days credited for time already served, after pleading guilty to possession of firearms by certain persons in Mississippi County.
Despite multiple convictions, Lewis will largely avoid prison, raising questions about the consistency and consequences of plea deals in violent crime cases.
