SEATH TYLER JACKSON - 15 yo - Summerfield (NW of Orlando) FL

Defendant in Seath murder wants trial moved

Charlie Kay Ely’s attorney said the case has received too much negative publicity

Charlie Ely listens as her attorney, Jonathan Bull, argues for
closure of all proceedings involving her at the Marion County Judicial
Center in Ocala on May 23. Her attorney is now asking to move her trial
outside of the county.

Alan Youngblood/Staff photographer/File

By Fred Hiers
Staff writer

Last Modified: Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at 10:48 p.m.

The attorney for Charlie Kay Ely, one of five people charged with
the gruesome murder of a 15-year-old boy, said in court Wednesday that
he will ask the judge to move his client’s trial outside of Marion
County.

Attorney Jonathan Bull told Circuit Judge David Eddy he would soon formally file the request.
He later told reporters there was too much negative publicity about the case in the local media.

“It (is) an emotional case and quite frankly the gruesome nature of the
crime,” Bull said. He said Orlando would potentially be a good location
because of the city’s recent distraction by the Casey Anthony trial.

Ely’s status conference was one of three such hearings Wednesday before Eddy.
Defense lawyers and prosecutors conferred about sharing evidence and
scheduled witness depositions.

The other hearings were for co-defendants Michael Shane Bargo, 19, and Kyle Hooper, 17.
All three are charged with first-degree murder.

Prosecutors contend that in April, Ely, Hooper, Bargo and two other co-defendants —
Justin Soto, 20 and Amber Wright, 15 — plotted to lure Wright’s former
boyfriend, Seath Jackson, 15, to Ely’s home in Summerfield.

Following interviews with some of the co-defendants, Marion County sheriff’s
investigators said that when Seath arrived at Ely’s home, Hooper and
Soto struck the boy in the head.

The attack escalated from there, investigators said. Investigators said
that based on co-defendant interviews, Bargo shot Jackson several times
during the beating.

Jackson’s body was carried into the backyard and burned in a fire pit, the reports said.
His remains were shoveled into several 5-gallon paint buckets and thrown into a water-filled limerock pit.

Ely told investigators that as soon as Jackson entered the house she ran and stayed in a back bedroom.
All five accused of the murder have pleaded not guilty.

Of the five, only Ely is asking for a speedy trial. Jury selection is slated for Sept. 19.
Bull said he will be prepared for trial.

“We do have enough to present a very well (prepared) defense for my client,” he said Wednesday.
He described Ely as having “a deep-seated fear of Bargo” and was forced to participate.
Bull
said the strategic advantage of pushing for an early trial is that it
takes time away from prosecutors from finding additional witnesses and
evidence against his client. It also reduces the time for prosecutors to
strike bargains with the other co-defendants to testify against Ely in
exchange for lesser charges and potential sentences.

Hooper’s lawyer, David Mengers, said after his client’s status conference that
his client warned Seath to get out of the house before the shooting began.

“He (Hooper) did not commit murder, nor did he want a murder to take place,” Mengers
said. “All witnesses are unanimous that Kyle Hooper did not kill the gentleman.”

Eddy on Wednesday told Bull and Bargo’s lawyer, Charles Holloman, and
prosecutors to be well underway with depositions by November. Another
status conference will be scheduled then.

Assistant state attorneys Amy Berndt and Robin Arnold on Wednesday also obtained a
genetic DNA sample from Bargo by way of a swab from inside his cheek.

Berndt said the DNA will be used to compare to DNA obtained at the crime scene.

Holloman also received from prosecutors copies of letters co-defendants have written friends and family since their arrests.
Holloman said there were at least 100 letters, but thus far, none written by Bargo suggests he’s guilty of Seath’s murder.


http://www.ocala.com/article/20110810/ARTICLES/110819971?p=3&tc=pg

Bargo's attorney said he cautioned his client not to write letters or communicate with anyone because of our Sunshine Law.

Document: Seath Jackson family statement

Published: Wednesday, June 29, 2011 at 2:40 p.m

http://www.ocala.com/article/20110629/MULTIMEDIA/110629653?tc=obinsite

Jury selection under way for first suspect in Seath murder
Published: Monday, September 19, 2011 at 1:41 p.m.

Circuit Judge David Eddy presides at jury selection for the first-degree murder trial of Charlie Ely, inset, on Monday, Sept. 19, 2011, in Ocala, Fla.


OCALA - Jury selection for Charlie Kay Ely's murder trial began Monday with many of the potential jurors questioned in the morning session stating they had read or seen at least one news report on the case.

“You have a lot of people who have heard about the case. It's a little bit too early to tell whether or not we will renew our request for a change of venue,” said Jonathan Bull, who is Ely's defense attorney.

Bull previously filed a change of venue motion, but it was denied by Circuit Judge David Eddy in late August.

While the potential jurors did say they had heard about the case, most also said they had not formed an opinion on the case and could render a fair decision.

On Monday, the potential jurors were brought in one by one and questioned by Eddy. Many recalled hearing about the case and some were struck by the way Seath Jackson, 15, was killed in April.

Investigators said Jackson was beaten, tied up and shot. His body was burned, and his remains placed into 5-gallon buckets and thrown into a flooded limerock pit.

Ely, 19, is accused of taking part in the murder of Jackson at Ely's home in Summerfield.

She is one of five people accused of first-degree murder. The others are Michael Shane Bargo, 19; Kyle Hooper, 17; Justin Soto, 20; and Amber Wright, 15.

Prosecutors say the five plotted to lure Jackson, who was Wright's ex-boyfriend, to Ely's home.

http://www.ocala.com/article/20110919/ARTICLES/110919669/1402/NEWS?Title=Jury-selection-under-way-for-first-suspect-in-Seath-murder

OCALA, Fla. -- A jury has been
selected to hear the case of a 19-year-old woman accused of taking part
in the murder of a teenager at her home near Ocala.
Deputies in Marion County arrested six people after 15-year-old Seath Jackson was beaten and shot and then his remains burned in a bound sleeping bag.Charlie Kay Ely is the first of five juveniles accused in the April 17 killing.The Ocala Star-Banner reports the first-degree murder trial is expected to get underway at 10 a.m. Tuesday morning.Authorities
say Jackson was lured to Ely's Summerfield home, where he was beaten,
tied up and shot. According to arrest reports,Jackson's body was burn
and his remains were placed into buckets and tossed into a lime pit.The newspaper reports the jury consists of two ordained ministers, a retired typesetter and a bartender.There is one alternate juror.
Read more: http://www.wesh.com/news/29242202/detail.html#ixzz1YWGUqS80

Murder Trial Of Ocala Teen Gets Under Way

Defense Claims Group Forced Girl To Take Part In Killing

POSTED: 5:15 pm EDT September 20, 2011

OCALA, Fla. -- Testimony is under way in the murder trial against a local teenager.
Charlie Ely is the first of five people to go on trial, accused in the killing of 15-year-old Seath Jackson. Police said Jackson's body was burned after his death.
During opening statements Tuesday afternoon, the prosecution claimed Ely confessed during police interviews to being a part of the plot.
Jackson's mother took the stand first saying the whole thing started as an argument between her son and another teen over a girl.
The defense argued Ely was held at gunpoint and forced to help dispose of Jackson's body.

Read more: http://www.wesh.com/news/29246830/detail.html#ixzz1YaqliEsd

Report: Closing arguments today in trial of woman accused in Marion teen's murder

8:06 a.m. EDT, September 23, 2011

Closing arguments are expected today in the case against a woman accused of taking part in the death of a Marion County teen earlier this year.

Jurors on Thursday heard a recording of Charlie Kay Ely's interview with the Marion County Sheriff's Office showed her telling a detective that she knew 15-year-old Seath Jackson would not leave her home alive on April 17. Ely and her friends are accused of beating, tying and shooting Seath before burning his body and putting the remains in paint buckets.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/crime/os-charlie-ely-murder-trial-seath-jackson-20110923,0,1182881.story

Girl Guilty After Teen Beaten, Shot, Burned In Sleeping Bag

Defense Claims Group Forced Girl To Take Part In Killing

POSTED: 2:42 pm EDT September 23, 2011


OCALA, Fla. -- An Ocala teenager has been found guilty of first-degree murder.

Charlie Ely, 19, is the first of five people to go on trial, accused in the killing of 15-year-old Seath Jackson. Police said Jackson's body was burned after his death.
During opening statements Tuesday afternoon, the prosecution claimed Ely confessed during police interviews to being a part of the plot.
Jackson's mother took the stand first, saying the whole thing started as an argument between her son and another teen over a girl.
Jackson's friends told WESH 2 News that the victim's ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend are at the center of the elaborate murder plot.

Jackson was beaten in the head with a wooden object then shot multiple times, according to investigators. He was then shot again, moved into a bathtub where his knees were broken, and then stuffed into a sleeping bag before being burned. His ashes were placed in paint cans.
The defense argued Ely was held at gunpoint and forced to help dispose of Jackson's body.

Ely will remain in custody until sentencing. A date has not yet been set.

Read more: http://www.wesh.com/news/29281364/detail.html#ixzz1YofbDFe8

TV20 Exclusive: Charlie Ely Speaks Out(video)
by Natalia Martinez - September 27th 2011 06:08pm

A young woman convicted of murder says she feels innocent in her heart.
For the first time after her conviction in the killing of 15-year-old Seath Jackson, Charlie Ely spoke exclusively to TV20.
The teen was found guilty on Friday of first degree murder.
Prosecutors convinced jurors Ely helped lure Seath Jackson to her Marion County home knowing that he would be killed. But the teen told us that is not true, and feared for her own life as the violence ensued.
"Everybody thinks that 'oh, you helped in all that,'" Ely told TV20. "I didn't help in it, I didn't want anything to go down. I didn't want anything to happen."
Ely now faces a mandatory life sentence without parole. She said her attorney was filing a motion to appeal the verdict.

http://www.wcjb.com/news/10601/tv20-exclusive-charlie-ely-speaks-out

Lawyer: Defendant in Seath Jackson case not fit for trial

By Bill Thompson
Staff writer
Published: Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 11:35 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 11:35 p.m.

One of the defendants in the horrific killing of a Belleview teenager is incompetent to stand trial, the suspect's lawyer said Wednesday.

Michael Johnson, the lawyer representing James Young Havens III, told a judge that a psychiatrist has found his client unfit to stand trial for his part in the slaying of 15-year-old Seath Jackson, who authorities say was murdered in April by a gang of young people ranging in age from 15 to 20.

Havens, 38, is charged as an accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.

Prosecutors allege that he helped dispose of the body and enabled one of the suspects to elude arrest by driving him to Starke.

Johnson told Circuit Judge David Eddy during a brief pre-trial conference Wednesday that Havens has been found incompetent to proceed to trial.

Johnson declined to reveal the nature of Havens' condition either in court or during a brief exchange with reporters after the hearing.

Eddy asked prosecutors to schedule a competency hearing to evaluate the doctor's findings.

At that proceeding, the judge would determine whether Havens is indeed unfit or could be restored to competency to face a trial.

It was unclear when that hearing would take place.

Havens, who is free on bond, and four other defendants in Seath's slaying appeared before Eddy for pre-trial hearings on Wednesday.

Lawyers for both sides agreed to schedule future hearings to update the status of all the cases for early next year.

In other action Wednesday, Charles Holloman, the lawyer for Michael Shane Bargo, 19, the suspected ringleader in the slaying, informed the judge he had enlisted the aid of a death-penalty lawyer.

Holloman said if the state were not seeking the death penalty for Bargo, the trial could proceed in the near future. As it is, next summer is the earliest he envisioned the case going before a jury, Holloman said.

Prosecutors maintain that Bargo beat and shot Seath multiple times with a .22-caliber gun after he was lured to another defendant's home in Summerfield.

Bargo allegedly wanted to settle a score over the victim's past relationship with Amber E. Wright, 15, a former girlfriend of both Bargo and Seath.

In addition to being beaten and shot, Seath was struck with a blunt object in order to shatter his kneecaps. His body was then placed in a sleeping bag and dumped into a burning fire pit.

His remains were scooped into five-gallon paint cans and dropped in a remote water-filled limerock pit.

In addition to disposing of the remains, Havens also is accused of helping Bargo by driving him to Starke after the crime.

On Wednesday, prosecutors also said they had not decided whether to seek the death penalty for Justin Edward Soto, 20, who, along with Kyle Lonnie-Duan Hooper, is accused of participating in beating Seath and restraining him while Bargo shot him.

Prosecutors also proposed trying Wright and Hooper, 17, together.

A six-member jury for each defendant would hear the case simultaneously.

Prosecutors said other than some witness statements, the evidence against both suspects was almost identical. When evidence pertaining specifically to one of them was proffered, the jury for the other defendant could be excused.

Judge Eddy said such a proceeding was rare, but that he would be willing to consider it.

The sixth defendant in the case, Charlie Kay Ely, 19, was convicted of first-degree murder in September.

Last month, Eddy sentenced her to life in prison without the possibility of parole for her role in the slaying. Ely and Wright allegedly lured Jackson to Ely's home in Summerfield, where the killing occurred.

http://www.ocala.com/article/20111102/ARTICLES/111109902?p=1&tc=pg

Snipped from above article:

Michael Johnson, the lawyer representing James Young Havens III, told a judge that a psychiatrist has found his client unfit to stand trial for his part in the slaying of 15-year-old Seath Jackson, who authorities say was murdered in April by a gang of young people ranging in age from 15 to 20.

Johnson told Circuit Judge David Eddy during a brief pre-trial conference Wednesday that Havens has been found incompetent to proceed to trial.

Johnson declined to reveal the nature of Havens' condition either in court or during a brief exchange with reporters after the hearing.

Eddy asked prosecutors to schedule a competency hearing to evaluate the doctor's findings.

At that proceeding, the judge would determine whether Havens is indeed unfit or could be restored to competency to face a trial.

It was unclear when that hearing would take place.

Havens, who is free on bond, and four other defendants in Seath's slaying appeared before Eddy for pre-trial hearings on Wednesday.

WHAT A CROCK. Havens is just a chicken and trying to get out of going to jail. Where do they get these idiot psychiatrists to say anything? The guy had the sense to help cover up and help the murderer get out of town. Sure sounds to me like he is sane--just a heartless SOB with no courage to admit to what he did. Oh and he's FREE on bond? If he's so incompetent then why isn't he in the hospital? This is such BS.

Top local story of 2011: Teen murdered, mutilated and burned

Friday, December 30, 2011 at 11:19 a.m

It was among the most shocking Marion County murder cases ever. A 15-year-old boy was lured by two girls to a friend's home. He was shot to death, his body was mutilated and the corpse was set ablaze. In the end, six people ages 15 to 20 were arrested in connection with horrible case.

The murder of Seath Jackson of Summerfield was the Star-Banner staff's pick for the No. 1 local story of 2011. In 2010, the top pick was a house fire that killed five children from the Jordan family.

Authorities say Michael Shane Bargo, 19, was the ringleader in Seath's slaying. He allegedly beat and shot Seath multiple times with a .22-caliber gun.

After Seath's kneecaps were shattered, the body was placed in a sleeping bag and dumped into a burning fire pit. The remains were later scooped into five-gallon paint cans and dropped into a remote water-filled limerock pit.

Bargo allegedly wanted to settle a score over the victim's past relationship with Amber E. Wright, 15, a former girlfriend of both men. Charlie Kay Ely, 19, and Wright allegedly lured Jackson to the murder scene — Ely's home.

Ely was convicted of first-degree murder in September. She was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Justin Edward Soto, 20, and Kyle Lonnie-Duan Hooper allegedly beat Seath and restrained him while Bargo shot him, documents state. The sixth defendant, James Young Havens III, is accused of driving Bargo to Starke after the crime.

The other criminal cases remain pending.

www.ocala.com/article/20111230/ARTICLES/111239991/1005/sports01?Title=Top-local-story-of-2011-Teen-murdered-mutilated-and-burned

Teen brother, sister will be tried together in Seath Jackson murder case


Kyle Hooper, left, and Amber Wright, right, sit at the same table
as defense attorneys David Mengers, second from left, and Shane Bachman
confer, during a pre-trial status conference for Hooper and Wright in
the Seath Jackson murder trial at the Marion County Judicial Center in
Ocala, Fla. on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012.
Bruce Ackerman/Staff photographer

By Vishal Persaud
Staff writer

Published: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 11:06 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 11:06 p.m.

The teenage brother and sister accused of helping plan and carry out the murder of 15-year-old Seath Jackson in Summerfield last year will be tried together, a judge decided Wednesday.



Prosecutors argued that the evidence against Amber Wright, 15, and brother Kyle Hooper, 17, is virtually identical and that a single trial would save time and money and be more efficient. Separate six-person juries would hear the cases during the trial, however.

“The evidence as to both of these defendants is exactly the same, except for the confessions,” said Assistant State Attorney Amy Berndt.

David Mengers and Shane Bachman, the attorneys for Hooper and Wright, did not object to trying the teens together, although Mengers expressed concerns about having separate juries. He said it would be more time-consuming to shuffle two juries in and out of the courtroom, and he worried that the two juries might leak information to each other.

“There's a danger of information bleeding from one place to another,” Mengers said.

Despite Mengers' concerns, Judge David Eddy granted both of the prosecution's requests to try the teens together, but with separate juries.

“I find that it would be feasible and would not prejudice any party involved in these proceedings to try these cases in dual juries,” Eddy said.

The pair are next scheduled to be in court in April, when the judge may set a trial date.

Because of their ages, neither faces the death penalty.

Garbed in loose-fitting, gray jail tops and pants, Wright and Hooper sat stoically during Wednesday's hearing. The two redheads looked straight ahead at the judge but did not talk to each other or their attorneys.

Also appearing in court was Justin Soto, 21, who is also charged in Seath Jackson's murder.

In contrast to the somber demeanors of Wright and Hooper, Soto swaggered into the courtroom and appeared comfortable, even playful, during his hearing. He stuck out his tongue and smirked several times.

Soto was represented by Public Defender Bill Miller and Assistant Public Defender Nicole Hardin. The state has not decided yet whether to seek the death penalty against Soto. His case was continued until later this year.

All three, along with Charlie Kay Ely and Michael Bargo, are accused of luring Seath Jackson to a home, then beating and shooting him to death before burning his body in a pit in Ely's back yard on April 17, 2011. Investigators say Amber Wright and Seath dated at one time and that the defendants were upset with Seath for allegedly hitting her.

Bargo has been portrayed as the ring leader. He reportedly was close to Amber and carried on an online feud with Seath in the weeks leading up to the murder.

Ely has already been tried and found guilty. She was sentenced to life in prison.

http://www.ocala.com/article/20120125/ARTICLES/120129758

Thursday, April 05, 2012 @ 11:10AM
Jose Baez appeals teen's life sentence in Seath Jackson murder

OCALA --
One of the suspects convicted of taking part in the murder of a 15-year-old Marion County boy has a new, high-profile lawyer.

Court records show Jose Baez is now representing Charlie Ely, who is currently serving a life sentence for her involvement in the brutal killing of Seath Jackson in 2011.


Ely, 19, was found guilty in October of luring Jackson to her home, where she and several others beat him to death.

But now, Baez has filed a notice of appeal in Marion County court.

Baez represented Casey Anthony during her criminal trial for the murder of her daughter, Caylee. She was acquitted in 2011, and Baez is no longer representing Anthony.


Four others still await trial for Seath Jackson's murder.

Michael Bargo, the alleged mastermind behind the plot to kill Jackson, is the only one that faces the death penalty if convicted. He is scheduled to appear in court later in April.


Two others, Kyle Hooper and Amber Wright, face life in prison. The brother and sister will be tried together.

The case of the final suspect, Justin Soto, has been continued until later in 2012.


http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2012/4/5/jose_baez_appeals_ch/