Man accused of trying to kill officer withdraws plea

By MIKE FLETCHER
Tribune staff writer

Sat, May 17 2008

— A convicted felon from Crown Point charged with attempting to kill a Kokomo police officer during a police chase last January withdrew his agreement with prosecutors to plead guilty, setting the stage for a jury trial in the case.
Jamon Reed was to be sentenced Wednesday in Howard Superior Court 1 as part of a plea bargain, which would have given Reed a 17-year prison sentence.
Reed’s attorney, Brent Dechert, had the plea set aside March 10 at Reed’s request.
A jury trial is now set for 9 a.m. May 16.
Calls made to Deputy Prosecutor Ron Byal and Dechert seeking comment on the plea were not immediately returned.
Police say Reed tried to run over one officer and threatened to kill other officers during the brief chase on the city’s north side.
Reed faced eight charges, including attempted murder in the case.
Prosecutors entered into a recommended plea bargain in January with Reed that would have him plead guilty to a B felony possession of cocaine charge in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges.
Kokomo police arrested Reed, along with Darrell Hall, of Gary, on Jan. 12, 2007, after Reed and Hall reportedly fled from members of the Howard County Drug Task Force.
Hall pleaded guilty to a cocaine charge and was sentenced in September to six years in prison.