The man charged with Felony Murder and a host of other criminal offenses stemming from police chase and subsequent fatal crash entered a guilty plea in Effingham County Superior Court last week.
Kelvin Parish Brown Jr. was arrested in July 2024 after he fled from an officer trying to conduct a traffic stop, led police on a high speed chase, and crashed his vehicle. Brown’s passenger was killed as a result of the crash.
In August 2024, Brown appeared in court for a bond hearing on a number of charges, including felony Fleeing charges, Obstruction, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, and a number of traffic offenses.
During the bond hearing, an officer with the Springfield Police Department testified that he was pumping gas in Springfield around lunch time. His vehicle was next to Brown’s and the officer was on the phone with a deputy when he smelled an odor of marijuana coming from Brown’s vehicle. He said he tapped on the back of Brown’s vehicle, explained the reason for the stop, and asked him to step out of the vehicle. Brown said he was going to get his phone, but put the vehicle in drive instead. The officer got back in his own vehicle and began pursuing Brown who was driving upwards of 120 mph on Highway 119 where the speed limit is 55 mph.
Eventually, the Springfield PD officer backed off from the pursuit and it was picked up by deputies with the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office. A PIT maneuver was performed and the pursuit was terminated. Brown’s vehicle traveled through the air, flipped in someone’s front yard, and came to a rest in front of the Clyo Post Office, but Brown fled from the vehicle on foot. He was apprehended a short time after a K-9 was deployed. The passenger in the vehicle, 28-year-old Dezirriah Shamore Roberts, was transported to the hospital in critical condition.
During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement located a ‘broken 32-ounce Mason jar of marijuana’ with a loaded Glock.’ Further investigation determined that Brown was driving on a suspended license and had been convicted of felony possession of drugs with intent to distribute in South Carolina just three months before. An investigator with the ECSO drug unit also collected the evidence, to include 3.9 ounces of marijuana, the Glock 29 pistol, some ammunition, a digital scale, and several clear plastic bags.
After the crash investigation was complete and following the passing of Brown’s passenger, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office also charged Brown with Felony Murder, for causing the death of Roberts while committing the act of felony fleeing from law enforcement.
Brown had been held in the Effingham County Jail since his arrest after a judge cited his risk of fleeing from the jurisdiction as justification for holding him without bond.
Brown was indicted in September 2024 on a lengthy list of charges, including:
- Felony Murder – 2 counts
- “Brown caused the death of Roberts by fleeing from officers in traffic conditions that necessitated that officers execute a PIT maneuver.”
- “Brown caused the death of Roberts by fleeing from officers in traffic conditions that necessitated that officers execute a PIT maneuver while in possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.”
- Fleeing/Attempting to Elude a Police Officer – 3 counts
- Homicide by Vehicle (1st degree) – 2 counts
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana
- Possess of a Firearm/Knife During Commission of a Crime
- Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officers (misdemeanor) – 2 counts
- Reckless Driving
Brown’s total exposure if convicted was a sentence of Life in Prison, plus 75 years.
Last week, represented by Savannah defense attorney Martin Hilliard, Brown entered a guilty plea to the majority of the felony charges, with the exception of the Murder charge.
Judge Muldrew sentenced Brown as follows:
1- Felony Murder – nolle prossed
2- Felony Murder – nolle prossed
3 – Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer – 10 years in prison
4 – Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer – 10 years in prison – consecutive to Count 3
5 – Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer – 10 years in prison – consecutive to Count 4
6 – Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon – 10 years probation
7 – Homicide by Vehicle 1st degree – 15 years in prison – concurrent to previous counts
8 – Homicide by Vehicle 1st degree – merged into Count 7
9 – Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute – 10 years probation – concurrent to Count 6
10 – Possession of Firearm During Commission of a Felony – 5 years probation – consecutive to Count 6
11 – Obstruction of an Officer (f) – 5 years probation – consecutive to Count 10
12 – Obstruction of an Officer (m) – 12 months probation – concurrent
13 – Reckless Driving – 12 months probation – concurrent
In total, Brown was sentenced to 30 years to serve in prison followed by 20 years on probation.
He’s also barred from contacting or harassing the family of the victim, will be barred from the State of Georgia with the exception of Clayton County, will have to abide by a curfew, and will be prohibited from owning a firearm.
The case was prosecuted by the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.
