Atmore man gets 20 years in prison

Escambia County (Ala.) Circuit Judge Bert Rice sentenced Devonta Deshawn Rollins to the maximum of 20 years in prison after the Atmore resident entered a blind plea of guilty to manslaughter in the shooting death of Kenneth Harris, Jr.

Rollins, 22, 159 East Ashley St., Atmore, was arrested in April, 2016, and charged with murder for the shooting death of Harris.

Harris was 18 when Flomaton police found his body inside 58 Lender St., in Flomaton on April 19, 2016. He had been shot once in the back of the head.

After pleading guilty to manslaughter, Rollins faced a prison term of 2 to 20 years in prison. During Wednesday's sentencing hearing Rollins admitted guilt and the state made no recommendation on sentencing. Judge Rice then sentenced him to 20 years.

Escambia County District Attorney Steve Billy said when someone enters a blind plea it's put into the mercy of the court to decide the sentence.

"Based on the facts, we felt like justice was served," Billy said.

Flomaton police received its first call at 12:44 p.m. on April 19, 2016 from a caller who said someone had been shot. When officers arrived at the Lender Street house they found Harris' body on the floor inside the home.

Flomaton Police Chief Bryan Davis said at the time, officers also found a .38-caliber pistol at the scene, which is believed to be the murder weapon.

Davis also said when officers arrived, two people were seen exiting the house and one was identified as Rollins.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the FBI joined the Flomaton Police Department in the investigation which led to Rollins' arrest.

Chief Davis stated at the time that Rollins and Harris had a history of altercations and were mutually combative.

"Both men had been in possession of the gun in the hours preceding the shooting," Davis stated in 2016."