Judge accepts Walker's plea

Less than a week after Circuit Judge Jack Weaver rejected a guilty plea from Nadiya Diane Walker that would have given her a 30-year prison sentence, the judge accepted another plea agreement that carries a sentence of 15 years to life.

Walker and Jonathan Michael Taylor were both charged with capital murder in the March 2015 shooting death of Walker's ex-boyfriend, Cory Brian Moncrief.

Taylor has admitted to shooting Moncrief in the back of the head as Moncrief slept on his sofa inside his Forrest Avenue residence in East Brewton. If convicted of capital murder the sentence is either life in prison without the possibility of parole or death.

On March 17, Walker appeared at the Escambia County Courthouse before Judge Weaver to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in a plea agreement with the district attorney's office that would require a 30-year sentence and require her to testify in Taylor's trial. With no explanation, Judge Weaver rejected the plea agreement. Judge Weaver later said he could not comment on cases pending before him.

Walker, 33, was back in the Escambia County Courthouse Friday with her attorneys, Danny White and Kevin McKinley.

Walker again said she was pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit murder.

Judge Weaver explained to her that she was pleading guilty to a Class A felony that carries a sentence of 10 years to life. However, he noted she had a prior felony conviction that moved the sentence to 15 years to life.

Before accepting the new plea agreement, Judge Weaver asked District Attorney Steve Billy to give a factual basis for the plea agreement.

Billy said Walker had two children with the victim Moncrief and that the evidence would show Walker, who was living at her parents' house, allowed Moncrief to come on weekends and spend time with his children.

"At some point Ms. Walker became involved with Jonathan Michael Taylor who became very jealous about the visitation arrangements with the children and Corey Moncrief being able to come to her parents' house," Billy said.

Billy said Walker and Taylor went to a movie at Windcreek Casino and after the movie, Taylor initiated the idea of getting Moncrief out of the picture so he and Walker could be together.

Billy said after Moncrief was shot to death Walker gave consent to search her cell phone.

"Ms. Walker had been texting her current boyfriend who is Jonathan Michael Taylor and is the person who put the plan into action," Billy said. "She sent him a diagram floor plan of Mr. Corey Moncrief's apartment the night of the shooting at 8:14 p.m.

Billy said she texted Taylor again that night.

"At 10:57 a.m. the next morning she and Taylor were texting about Moncrief's vehicle being in the yard stating 'I don't understand but I guess it's done' referring to the shooting," Billy said.

Billy said Taylor sent Walker a text at 6 p.m. on March 31 and Taylor stated "'you're stuck with me now, especially now'."

"At 6:22 p.m. she responded back and said 'I won't ask you how you done it, but I don't think I want to know'," Billy added. Taylor responded, 'No, you don't'."

Billy told the judge there was no evidence that Walker was at Moncrief's residence on the night of the shooting but "she conspired and did furnish information to Mr. Taylor, who actually admitted to committing the murder."

Judge Weaver said he found a factual basis for the plea agreement to exist.

Judge Weaver said he would delay sentencing Walker until after she had complied with the agreement, which included her testifying in Taylor's trial, which is set for July.