A state appeals court is scheduled today to hear the cases of a former Commerce resident appealing his conviction and life prison sentence for capital murder, and a Greenville man is appealing his conviction and prison sentence for an armed robbery in Commerce during the summer.
The Sixth Court of Appeals in Texarkana is consider the appeals from George Washington Sharper and Evender Jackson Jr.
— Sharper was found guilty by a jury in the 196th District Court in May for the 2007 shooting death of David Olivares of Greenville. As prosecutors were not seeking the death penalty, Sharper was automatically sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
During a hearing in July, Visiting Judge Joe Clayton of Tyler denied a motion for a new trial in the case.
Defense Attorney Jack Paris had raised multiple issues following the conviction, including claims of evidence discovered since the conclusion of the trial as to the location of the gun used in the murder.
At approximately 11:20 p.m. on June 29, 2007, officers with the Greenville Police Department received a call of a shooting at 3408 Henderson Street. Olivares, 32, had been shot once in the upper right chest.
Sharper and Markus Ladane Stephenson were each indicted in the case.
Stephenson pleaded guilty in February 2013 to a reduced charge of murder and was sentenced to 60 years in prison.
Sharper, formerly of Commerce, and Stephenson, formerly of Greenville, were alleged to have murdered Olivares while in the course of committing a burglary of a habitation or robbery.
Two fires later occurred at the house, including one in September 2007 which destroyed the residence.
A jury in the 196th District found Jackson guilty Oct. 20 of one count of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and then sentenced Jackson to 50 years in prison.
A co-actor, Eddie James Dean Jr., entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to five years in prison.
The Hunt County grand jury returned indictments for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon June 26 against both defendants, alleging the pair used a shotgun while in the course of committing a theft on June 15.
Shortly after 3:30 a.m. that day, officers with the Commerce Police Department responded to an aggravated robbery call that occurred in the 1900 block of Washington Street. The victim was walking home when he was stopped by a man riding a bicycle. The victim was assaulted by that man and another man that brandished a weapon. The victim was able to give officers a good description of both suspects.
Aggravated robbery is a first degree felony, punishable upon conviction by a maximum sentence of from five to 99 years to life in prison, but based on Jackson’s criminal history, he was facing a minimum of 15 years in prison on the charge.