A pre-sentencing report revealed convicted murderer Lavelle Scott began smoking pot in grammar school and has never had a job in his life. The remainder of that life, or at least the majority of it, will apparently be spent behind bars.
Scott who was found guilty earlier this year on murder charges related to the death of his 31 day old daughter Sophia Flora Fields, was back in Greene County Criminal Court today.
A jury of 11 women and 1 man, after just under five hours of deliberations, returned with its guilty verdict on all four counts on May 7th. Following the verdict, Judge John Dugger sentenced Scott to life in prison for first degree murder in perpetration of child abuse and first degree murder in perpetration of child neglect.
Today, Scott was to be sentenced on convictions of aggravated child neglect and aggravated child abuse.
Before the hearing began however, Judge Dugger met in chambers with attorneys, explaining that counts three and four, aggravated child abuse and aggravated child neglect, are merged with counts one and two, and thus no additional sentencing would be required. No fines were attached to the murder convictions , but fines of $50,000 each were issued today on counts three and four.
Life in Tennessee means 60 years. Based on five and a half years already served and his behavior in prison moving forward, he would not be eligible for parole until around age 75 to 80.
Scott appeared in court today wearing an orange jail issued jump suit , unlike the street clothes he wore during the trial in May.
He will remain in the Greene County Detention Center until at least early September, as a motion for a new trial by his attorney T. Hunter Shelton, will be heard September 5th.
