Last defendant pleads to lesser charges in Latasha Roundtree fatal shooting

CEDAR RAPIDS - The last defendant charged for her involvement in the Latasha Roundtree fatal shooting pleaded guilty to lesser charges Thursday in Linn County District Court.

Alleigha Church-Green, 20, of Canton, Ohio, pleaded guilty to perjury, a felony, and accessory after the fact, a misdemeanor. She admitted in court that she provided false information and statements in a deposition with the Linn County attorney's Office last April regarding the fatal Roundtree shooting on Sept. 22, 2012.

She made the plea to accessory after the fact in writing because it's a misdemeanor. According to the complaint, Church-Green provided false information to police after the shooting incident regarding charges of first-degree murder, intimidation with a weapon, going armed with intent and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony.

First Assistant Linn County attorney Nick Maybanks said as part of the plea agreement he will dismiss the other three charges filed against her at sentencing. Maybanks said she likely will ask for a deferred sentence but he will ask for prison time.

Church-Green faces up to seven years in prison. Her sentencing is set for Oct. 27.

Tajh Ross, 20, was convicted following a bench trial of first-degree murder and other charges earlier this month. Three other defendants, Liban Muhidin, 21, Jeremiah Ellis, 20, and Yasin Muhidin, 18, each pleaded guilty and received prison time for their part in her death two weeks ago. Adrian M. Kenney, 24, who now lives in Arizona, received a suspended sentence and three years probation last week.

Roundtree, 19, was shot while sitting in a car with two friends headed to a party the defendants also attended that night. Roundtree wasn't the intended target but she was the only victim. She died a few hours later from a gunshot wound to the head.

According to trial testimony, Ross admitted to firing a .40 caliber handgun at the car, which killed Roundtree. He faces up to life in prison without parole and will be sentenced Oct. 3.

l Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com