STATE PROSECUTORS DROPPED PURSUIT OF DEATH PENALTY; GAVE PLEA DEAL INSTEAD TO KILLER, ENRAGING THE MURDER VICTIMS’ RELATIVES
FEBRUARY 21, 2020 – written by WADE QUEEN
A Williamson, West Virginia man will spend at least 25 years in prison, after murdering three people in March 2018.
Lance Ward was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday, with the possibility of parole in 25 years; just over one month shy of two years since the brutal crime .Ward shot and killed Micah Sammons, Derek James and Amber Lockard on March 23, 2018 on a strip mine site on what is known as Golf Branch near the Martin County/Pike County line on Ky. Route 292.
Lance Ward pleaded guilty to the three murder counts.
Members of the Sammons’ family, the James family, and the Lockard family, have all publicly said that the plea deal that was made by the Assistant Commonwealth Attorney’s office for Lance Ward made was a slap to the face of all of them.
In 2019, state prosecutors filed paperwork to seek the death penalty in the triple murder case, due to Lance Ward also robbing the three people he executed, as well as for the viciousness of the crime itself.
“This was supposed to be an execution trial. Not 25 years,” said Tony Sammons, Micah’s father. “You break that down, that’s eight years and four months per body.”
While they all continue with coping and healing from their grief, the relatives of the the three murder victims have made it publicly clear locally that they will be voting for whomever runs opposite of the Assistant Commonwealth Attorney in the next local election.
I understand how the families feel, and this is a gross miscarriage of justice. However an Assistant Commonwealth Attorney is not elected, they are appointed by the Commonwealth Attorney who is elected. No matter what happens now, this low life cannot be re-tried. The Commonwealth Attorney must have approved this plea deal, and WHY is my biggest question? It was a slam dunk death penalty case and should have been tried as such. There were harsher penalties available also; Life without the possibility of parole, life at hard labor without the possibility of parole, life plus one day and likely others. There is one remote option. Since Mr. smiling lowlife crossed state lines in the commission of a felony or to commit, the Feds could try him if they wish, and I don’t know why they didn’t, or if they will? I would advise people to oust the Commonwealth Attorney in the next election, they most certainly don’t deserve the office.
He’s not a lowlife. He’s a father. My father. I may have lost him, but do you ever think to consider that he may have some family looking over this just to see his face again? I never got the chance to even say bye. I love him, and please be nicer to my father. You don’t know him.
If your lucky someone will kill the low life piece shit while serving his time but not before his parole hearing
Well Grady, he’s a black man going to prison which likely has a large black population, he killed 3 white people, so I don’t see it. (Not racism, just fact). The Assistant Commonwealth Attorney needs to go with him, in my opinion!
Stop, your speaking vulgar of my father. That’s not what I wish to come over your parents. I love him, and I think that, that is just absurd to say, not even considering that he has children that contradict his bad decisions. I know he did something bad, but don’t go rubbing it in anyone’s face please.
Why the hell is he smiling? Also if that’s all you get for a killing I think I got a few.
That’s a sad day for the loved ones of the victims. Somebody needs to knock that smile off his face and I am sure they will.
He might have gotten off pretty easy but at least he’s doing some time Derek James killed Raymond Rice and spent not a single day behind bars. How is that right? It isn’t! But at least this guy is spending years to think about what he’s done. Maybe if they would have put Derek where he belonged he’d still be alive today to live with knowing he took such a precious person away from this world for no reason whatsoever!