Had he been convicted as charged at trial, defense said Kilton Lowery was looking at nearly 100 years.
A man charged with firing a gun in a Lakeview burglary last year pleaded guilty Friday (Aug. 24) to 10 charges, including simple burglary and aggravated assault, in exchange for an 18-year sentence, according to District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro’s office.
Kilton Lowery, 20, was arrested Aug. 22,2017, along with three co-defendants, after they were spotted pulling on car door handles in the 6900 block of General Haig Street.
NOFD firefighter Gino Ascani, who lived nearby, confronted the group when he said he saw four people trying to break into his fiance’s car on his security system.
As the group fled, Lowery fired two gunshots in Ascani’s direction, according to police. Ascani, who was armed, was not struck and did not return fire.
Authorities said Lowery and Travilique Lewis flipped their getaway car at Marconi Drive and Harrison Avenue, then attempted to escape on foot. They were caught and arrested.
Ednisha Temple and Curtnitra Neville were arrested a short time later after they were spotted walking on Marconi with handgun ammunition, according to Cannizzaro’s office.
Lowery, 20, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a firearm, being a felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of simple burglary, five counts of attempted simple burglary and aggravated flight endangering the life of a police officer Friday before Criminal District Judge Laurie White.
He must serve his 18-year prison sentence without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence, according to Cannizzaro’s office.
His defense attorney, Kevin Boshea, said Lowery’s decision to plead guilty was a tough one. The state had “extensive video evidence” of the incident, he said, and prosecutors would have been allowed to tell a jury about multiple burglary convictions in Lowery’s past.
Had a jury convicted him of all the charges he was facing, Boshea said Lowery could have been looking at close to 100 years in prison.
“Under these circumstances, if he goes though the rehabilitative programs available to him, he has shot at life,” Boshea said.
Assistant District Attorney Mark Lopez prosecuted the case.
Lowery’s co-defendants, Lewis, Temple and Neville, previously pleaded guilty.
According to Cannizzaro’s office, Temple, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of simple burglary and five counts of attempted simple burglary. She received a six-year sentence on May 15.
Neville, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of simple burglary and five counts of attempted simple burglary. She received a 12-year sentence on May 15.
Lewis, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of simple burglary and six counts of attempted simple burglary. She received a 12-year sentence on July 9.
