CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Two of seven men accused of the murder of Jalen (Johnson) Milan in April 2017 have reached deals in the case.
Seven bounty hunters and bail bondsmen were indicted on first-degree murder and other charges in the killing of the unarmed man, who they chased for several miles, mistaking him for the suspect they were attempting to apprehend.
According to court records, Jonathan Schnepp entered an open plea to three counts of aggravated assault. His other charges, including first-degree murder, have been dismissed, provided he cooperates with the state and testifies at the trials of his co-defendants.
Schnepp will be sentenced after the other trials and his sentences will run concurrently.
One of the other men charged in the case, Kenneth Chiasson, entered a memorandum of retirement, saying he will provide truthful, “good faith” testimony consistent with his previous statements at the trials of his co-defendants. His charges will then be retired.
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The trial for the other five defendants will be held later this year. The defendants are: Antwon Keese, Joshua Young, Prentice Williams, Roger West, and William Byles. Charges include first degree felony murder, attempted second degree murder, especially aggravated kidnapping, attempted especially aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, and employing a firearm in commission of a dangerous felony.
24-year-old Jalen (Johnson) Milan and another man were wounded April 23, 2017 after the bounty hunters and bail bondsmen confronted him and his three friends in the parking lot of the Walmart Neighborhood Market on Whitfield Rd. The bounty hunters and bail bondsmen chased the men for seven miles, which police said put the public at risk.
His family has said he was gunned down in a case of mistaken identity. The man the bondsmen were looking for, William Ellis, was not one of the men in the vehicle and was later taken into custody by police.
Police said that neither (Johnson) Milan nor his three friends had outstanding warrants. Police said there is no indication that the men in the Nissan had a firearm or shot any of the bondsmen.