Harrison man pleads guilty to murder, receives 36 years

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A man accused of a 2016 Boone County murder has accepted a plea agreement from the prosecution. According to the Harrison Daily Times, 23-year-old Shay Butler of Harrison will spend 36 years in prison after pleading guilty to capital murder and aggravated robbery.

Butler originally had additional charges as a felon in possession of a firearm with the sentencing enhancement of felony with a firearm, and he was charged as a habitual offender. The state agreed to dismiss the habitual offender and sentencing enhancement charges and moved not to prosecute the felon in possession of a firearm charge.

Butler was accused in the 2016 shooting death of 28-year-old Jeremy Scroggins of Harrison. Scroggins was last seen in the area of Gipson and Rock Springs Road in Boone County by his parents on June 27.

During questioning by investigators from the Boone County Sheriff’s Office and Arkansas State Police, Butler admitted shooting Scroggins and leaving his body in the area of Denning Cemetery where it was found. Butler told investigators he and his girlfriend, Morgan Vaughn picked up Scroggins and drove to the rural location with the intent of robbing him. During the robbery Butler admitted shooting Scroggins twice with a .22 caliber firearm.

Sheriff Moore says conversations on social media led to Butler and Vaughn being developed as suspects. Butler was in the Boone County jail at the time of his questioning where he has been held since September 19 on charges of breaking or entering and theft of property and possession of methamphetamine.

Boone County Circuit Judge Gordon Webb sentenced Butler to 36 years each on both counts with the sentences to run concurrently. He’ll have to serve more than 25 years before being eligible for parole. Butler was also ordered to pay $2,000 in pay-for-stay fees for the time he was in the Boone County Jail.

Butler will also ordered to testify against his co-defendant. Vaughn is charged with aggravated robbery as she is accused of picking up Scroggins and driving him to the cemetery. Her trial is scheduled to begin Monday.

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