‘You preyed upon my boy,’ grieving mother says at sentencing

CEDAR RAPIDS — The mother of 19-year-old Cordal Lewis, who was robbed and fatally shot in 2022, said Friday that Pierra Baugh’s actions of planning the robbery with the shooter were “especially hideous and disturbing” because she was considered a friend of the Lewis family.

Pam Lovette, tearing up throughout her victim impact statement during Baugh’s sentencing, said Baugh was known as “P Money” on the street and to their family. They thought of her as a friend. ”I let you around my family.”

“This was deeply personal,” said Lovette, who held up a collage of photos of her son during her statement. “He trusted you. You preyed upon my boy and caused his life to be taken away.”

Cordal never got to meet his son, she said, after losing his life over “something so senseless.” She said she “prays” Baugh suffers and serves the maximum prison time.

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Corey Lewis, Cordal’s father, also holding up a photo of his son during his statement, said he hoped 6th Judicial District Judge Christopher Bruns would give his son the peace he deserves.

“Give her the maximum,” Corey Lewis said. “She’s not normal. She needs to be locked in a cage and stay there a long time.”

Bruns sentenced Baugh, 34, to up to 27 years in prison for her guilty pleas, made in July, to second-degree robbery, first-degree theft, conspiracy to commit a non-forcible felony and accessory after the fact. He ran the sentences consecutively for the maximum prison term. She must serve a minimum of five years — half of the robbery sentence — before being eligible for parole.

Baugh’s role

During the sentencing, Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks said the evidence showed Baugh took money from Lewis while Kazius Childress threatened him with physical force. They planned the robbery. After Childress murdered Cordal, Baugh took the murder weapon and hid it. She had the opportunity to cooperate with police but didn’t.

The pleas hold her responsible for her role in the crime, Maybanks said. The other charge of first-degree murder will be dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

Baugh declined to make a statement during sentencing.

According to Childress’ trial in January, Baugh told Clee Barney that she took the gun used to kill Lewis out of the Barney’s mailbox, where Childress had left it, and hid it in the basement. Baugh lived with Barney at the time.

Barney didn’t know where the gun was, but police found it at his house. After the shooting, Barney was convicted in federal court for possessing a gun as a felon — but not for the murder weapon. It was for Baugh’s gun, also found in Barney’s house.

Barney also testified that Baugh had told him they planned to rob — but not kill — Lewis.

Baugh entered “Alford pleas” to the robbery, theft and conspiracy charges, where a defendant maintains innocence but admits the prosecution has enough evidence to convict at trial.

Co-conspirator

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Childress, now 23, of Cedar Rapids, originally charged with first-degree murder, pleaded to second-degree murder in the middle of his trial in January.

During the plea, Childress admitted to firing multiple times at Lewis, and that he acted with malice and intended to kill him. He also admitted that Lewis didn’t have a gun and he fired at Lewis as Lewis was running away from him.

According to trial testimony, Childress fired 11 times, striking Lewis multiple times in the back. Lewis was found dead Jan. 27, 2022, in the 300 block of 31st Street Drive SE. The bullets hit Lewis’ sternum and went through his heart.

Childress was sentenced in April to up to 50 years in prison with a mandatory 35 years before he is eligible for parole.

Childress also pleaded guilty in August to second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Kavon I. Johnson, 22, of Cedar Rapids, who was killed the day after Lewis on Jan. 28, 2022. Childress killed Johnson because Johnson witnessed Childress killing Lewis.

He faces up to another 50 years in prison in that slaying. His sentencing in that case is set for Oct. 25 in Linn County District Court.

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