Cylar Shemwell has pleaded guilty to the three counts of criminal complicity to commit manslaughter in relation to the 2019 triple homicide that occurred on Audubon Avenue. Jury selection began Monday but Shemwell now avoids a trial with the plea agreement, which included a sentence of 10 years in prison. His time already served will count toward his sentencing, according to Shemwell’s defense counsel.
Shemwell, now 37, is one of two men who were facing three counts of murder for the shooting deaths of Robert D. Smith Jr., 35; Jay Michael Sowders, 43; and Christopher Carie, 18, in a 2019 triple homicide. He also faced a first-degree assault because a fourth person, Carmen Vanegas, who was 35 at the time, was shot in the head but survived.
Court documents show that Shemwell signed the plea agreement Thursday morning. In addition to complicity to commit manslaughter, he pleaded guilty to one count of criminal complicity to commit first-degree assault.
The agreement shows that Shemwell made his guilty plea pursuant to North Carolina vs. Alford. An Alford plea is one in which a defendant maintains their innocence but admits that the prosecution’s evidence would likely result in a guilty verdict if brought to trial.
The plea agreement shows that the recommended sentence is 10 years in prison for each charge. The agreement shows that the sentences will run concurrently (at the same time), meaning Shemwell will serve a total of 10 years. He will be required to serve 85% of his sentence before being eligible for parole.
According to Shemwell’s counsel, the approximately 5 years he’s already served will count toward that 10-year sentence.
A final hearing has tentatively been scheduled for July 22, during which members of the victims’ families will be allowed to give victim impact statements.
Arnett Baines, the other person charged in connection to the homicides, pleaded guilty in early May to three counts of murder and one count of first-degree assault, among other charges, by accepting an agreement that included a sentence of 25 years to life without parole.
