Two men enter guilty pleas in attempted murder case

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - Monday morning, two men accused of trying to murder James Mallory decided not to fight and entered a plea.

William O'Bannon and Brandon Bartee asked the court to accept guilty pleas in the attempted murder case of Mallory.

Judge Judith Mcdonald-Burkman asked if facts in the case were correct.

"On the evening of April 10, 2012, Kendra Wilson lured James Mallory into an alley where you, Mr. Bartee and you Mr. O'Bannon were waiting pursuant to instructions from her? Is that correct so far?" Judge Mcdonald-Burkman asked O'Bannon and Bartee. Both replied "yes".

Court documents said Kendra Wilson lured Mallory into an alley where O'Bannon and Bartee waited. Documents said she told them to pretend not to know her and engage Mallory in conversation. Guns were pulled and the two said they demanded cash from Mallory. Mallory ran and was wounded. Prosecuting attorneys argue Wilson intended Mallory to be murdered. Mallory told us last week from behind bars that he was unarmed.

"I didn't even have a weapon to protect myself because I wasn't trying to live that life anymore," Mallory told WAVE 3 in a previous jailhouse interview.

Mallory is accused of killing 15-year-old Gregory Holt the very next night. Holt's mother is Kendra Wilson. She, O'Bannon and Bartee were arrested in connection with Mallory's shooting.

"The Commonwealth's position against Kendra Wilson is that she intended for the result to be the murder of James Mallory," Judge Mcdonald-Burkman said. "Yes Ma'am," a prosecuting attorney said.

But Mallory survived and now it looks like Bartee and O'Bannon are headed to prison.

"I will accept these pleas. I will find you guilty," Judge Mcdonald-Burkman said.

O'Bannon was sentenced to a total of 13 years behind bars. Bartee was sentenced to a total of 7 years. A status conference on sentencing is set for December 4.

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