Two men to plead guilty in killing of mother, 21

Kim Smith

Tuesday, April 30, 2002 | 9:16 a.m.

Two of the three men charged in connection with last year's fatal shooting of a Henderson mother have said they will enter a plea agreement.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Ed Kane said Curtis Lavon Powers, 23, and Marcus Lowe, 23, will both plead guilty to accessory to murder after the fact. The crime carries a one to five-year prison sentence.

A preliminary hearing for the men was to be held Monday, but the men said they will enter their guilty pleas before District Judge Donald Mosley May 13.

Arrest warrants were issued for Powers, Lowe and James Turner Jr. last July after Miranda Johnson, 21, was shot to death in her Henderson home.

Police believe Turner went to the home looking for Johnson's husband, Edward Wiggins.

Wiggins, a musician, had been introduced to Turner by a third person. He had given his cellular and home phone numbers to Turner so they could discuss a possible recording deal.

Wiggins testified at Turner's preliminary hearing that Turner became angry that Wiggins decided not to sign with Turner's Creative Rap Entertainment Organization.

According to court records, Turner called Wiggins on July 7 telling him to meet him, saying, 'Let's finish this. See what happens when I go to your crib. So get here. I'll be waiting for you.'

Wiggins was on his cell phone talking to his wife, who was home with their 3-week-old child, when Turner allegedly kicked in the front door and shot her in the head.

The baby was found on the floor by police, unharmed and sleeping.

Turner was arrested shortly after the shootings, but Powers and Lowe weren't arrested until February, when they were found in Kentucky.

Kane said Powers and Lowe fled the state, taking a gun believed to be the murder weapon with them. That gun has since been turned over to authorities for ballistics examinations.

"No witnesses placed them in the house," Kane said in explaining the deal. "Witnesses saw them near the house and they saw men at or near the door, but no one saw them in the house."

Turner's trial is scheduled for June 17.