RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WGNS News) – A man convicted of murdering a 32-year-old MTSU worker over a $50 debt has lost his appeal before the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. The appellate court upheld the Rutherford County convictions and effective life-plus-12-year sentence imposed by Circuit Court Judge James A. Turner. Gregory Keontae Lyons will remain behind bars unless he obtains additional relief through a higher court.
Victim Javarius Malone was shot and killed during an attempted drug transaction, according to court documents. During the original trial, Rutherford County District Attorney General Jennings Jones told WGNS that the prosecution’s theory of motive centered on a $50 debt Malone allegedly owed Lyons. The district attorney stated…
Appeal – Gregory Keontae Lyons appealed his convictions for first-degree premeditated murder, employing a firearm during an attempted dangerous felony, attempted sale of a Schedule I controlled substance and conspiracy to sell a Schedule I controlled substance. Lyons was 17 years old when Malone was shot and killed on Sept. 27, 2020. Following a review of the trial record, the appellate court affirmed each conviction and the sentence imposed by Rutherford County Circuit Court Judge James A. Turner…