The June 2004 murder of 17-year-old Brittany Willis shocked the residents of Wilson. The high school soccer star was abducted from a local shopping center, raped and shot in the head.
Three local teenagers were charged in connection with the crimes.
Kenneth Maurice Meeks, 16 at the time, pleaded guilty to the murder in April 2006. He is serving life in prison.
James Arthur Johnson, 18 at the time, faced charges of capital murder, rape, kidnapping and robbery, but those charges were dropped and replaced by one count of accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.
In February 2009, Johnson took a plea deal and entered an Alford plea, which means pleading guilty while maintaining innocence, for failing to notify authorities of the crime. He was given a prayer for judgment and not sentenced to additional jail time.
Julian Tyson Deans, 19 at the time, was also charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, but to this day, Deans has managed to avoid his day in court.
In the extensive news coverage of the case against Johnson, Deans received little attention. His alleged involvement was usually no more than an afterthought, even though he was charged for allegedly assisting Meeks with a plan to cover up the murder.
Deans has been out on bail since November 2004 and his case is still pending. Where is the outrage?
In 2007, in a letter to the Wilson Daily Times newspaper, Meeks claimed total responsibility for the murder and defended James Johnson, saying he was not involved.
Meeks’ statement set off a series of legal maneuvers and actions that thrust Johnson into a glaring spotlight. Claims of civil rights violations and injustice triggered the NAACP, politicians, and prominent defense attorneys to take up Johnson’s cause. Rallies of support organized by the NAACP kept the focus of the criminal proceedings squarely on Johnson.
Meanwhile, Deans remained in the background, watching and waiting.
It took over four years and two special prosecutors before Johnson entered his Alford plea of guilt in February 2009.
Now, Deans’ defense attorney, Thomas J. Moore, is finally ready to resolve the charge against his client.
“We hope to have some clarity within two to four weeks,” Moore told NC WANTED on March 25, 2009.
“I am working with my client and the [Wilson County] D.A.’s office toward some type of resolution, hopefully by the end of April,” Moore said. “I have no idea what that resolution will be, but everybody wants to put this to bed.”
In June 2009, the Willis family will quietly mourn the loss of Brittany. And for the first time in five years, the family may also be able to mourn while knowing all three defendants in their daughter’s murder case have faced justice.
NC WANTED is tracking the case against Julian Deans and will bring you the latest developments in the coming days and weeks.
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