Whitley man admits role in 2008 homicide

A Whitley County man, who was one of eight family members indicted in connection with a 2008 homicide, has accepted responsibility for his role in the killing.

Jason Michael Anderson pleaded guilty on March 22 to criminal facilitation to commit murder in connection with the June 20, 2008, killing of Larry Dean Jones. He also plead guilty on March 22 to trafficking in a controlled substance in a separate unrelated 2010 indictment.

In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to recommend a five-year prison sentence on the facilitation charge, and a seven-year prison sentence on the drug charge.

However, the sentences are to be served concurrently, or at the same time. The plea agreement calls for Anderson’s prison sentence to be probated for five years after he has served a total of 120 days in jail. He is to receive credit for time served.
Two of Anderson’s family members, James Allen Anderson, 35, and James W. Anderson, 41, were both initially indicted for murder and complicity to commit murder in Jones death. Jones, 34, was found dead laying in a ditch beside Cane Gap Road about 1:30 a.m. on June 20, 2008.

James A. Anderson later pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in Jones death in exchange for prosecutors recommending a 15-year prison sentence.

James W. Anderson later plead guilty to criminal complicity to commit first-degree manslaughter in exchange for prosecutors recommending a 12-year prison sentence.

The Anderson brothers, Jones, and another individual, Sammy Gay, had gone to a drug dealer’s home and Gay went inside to supposedly purchase drugs for the group, said Commonwealth’s Attorney Allen Trimble.

"He took their money and went in the front door, and out the back door," Trimble said.

Shortly after that, the Anderson brothers and Jones got into an argument that led to the fatal confrontation.

Both defendants admitted to shooting Jones when they entered their guilty pleas.

The case made headlines numerous times in 2008 with six other people, who were related to the brothers James A. and James W. Anderson, were charged as accessories after the fact.

Three of those family members, Tammy Marie Podsaid, 42, Gloria Perry, 62, and Larry Perry, 57, all entered guilty pleas in 2009 to tampering with physical evidence charges in exchange for prosecutors dismissing criminal facilitation to commit murder charges against the trio.

Prosecutors recommended that three-year prison sentences in each case be probated for three years. Under the terms of the plea deal, Larry Perry and Podsaid were required to serve 120 days in jail.

Prosecutors agreed to dismiss facilitation to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence charges against James Lee Podsaid, 38, who was also charged in connection with the case.

In addition, the grand jury also charged two other relatives of the men, Jason A. Anderson, 33, and John Anderson, 45, both of Williamsburg, with criminal facilitation to commit murder for allegedly "aiding James A. Anderson and/or James W. Anderson in the murder of Larry D. Jones," according to their indictments.

They allegedly helped James A. and James W. after the shooting occurred.

John Anderson pleaded guilty on May 28, 2009, to a reduced charge of hindering prosecution or apprehension in exchange for prosecutors recommending a 12-month jail sentence that was conditionally discharged for 12 months.

John Anderson was also placed on supervised probation for two years.