Woman sentenced for lying to police about suspect

A woman convicted of lying to police on the whereabouts of an accused murderer was sentenced to 20 days in jail and two year's probation Thursday.

Erica N. Ward, 19, of 2218 Good Hope St., was convicted in April by Associate Circuit Judge Gary A. Kamp for misdemeanor attempting to hinder prosecution. According to prosecutors, she provided a false alibi for Bernard Richards, 19, who is charged with second-degree murder in the Jan. 25 shooting death of Jacob Bowers, 17.

On Thursday, Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle argued for a 60-day jail sentence, stating that despite being convicted of a misdemeanor, a message should be sent to those who may want to lie in a murder investigation.

"I think it's important to remember this is a case where she tried to help a man get away with murder," he said.

Ward's attorney, Patrick McMenamin, asked the judge to impose probation based on witness testimony in Ward's trial that he claimed was not valid.

"The only evidence against her is the word of a liar," McMenamin said of David McKee Jr., who placed Richards at the scene of the homicide behind DuShell's Furniture, 2103 William St. McKee originally told police the shooter was his ex-brother-in-law, then said it was Richards after three minutes of questioning.

McKee's testimony was corroborated by other witnesses at the scene who described a man matching Richards' description. When Ward was questioned by police, she told officers that Richards was with her at the time of the slaying.

During the sentencing hearing Thursday, Kamp provided two options for Ward to choose from: 60 straight days in jail with no probation, or a suspended execution of sentence where she serves 20 days while off from work and is placed on two years' probation. Ward choose the latter.

The judge also ordered Ward to pay a $1,000 fine and to have no contact with Richards until the end of her probation. When Ward asked if she could speak with Richards should he be acquitted, the judge said no.

If she violates the conditions of her probation, she could be sentenced up to a year in jail.

Prosecutors accuse Richards of killing Bowers while the victim fled a botched robbery of McKee, a friend of the defendant.

Richards was scheduled for jury trial Aug. 22 before Circuit Court Judge William Syler.

kmorrison@semissourian.com

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