Suspect Strikes Plea Deal in Shooting Death, Sentenced To 40 Years

The fourth and final suspect charged with the murder of a man in his unincorporated Woodstock home has pleaded guilty for his part in the shooting death.

John Michael Taylor, 28, pleaded guilty on Jan. 14 to voluntary manslaughter, burglary in the first degree, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and possession of methamphetamine.

Court records show the voluntary manslaughter charge was reduced from malice murder by prosecutors with the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office. In exchange for the guilty plea, the office declined to prosecute Taylor for three counts of felony murder and one count of aggravated assault charges a grand jury indicted him on in February 2014.

Taylor was sentenced to a total of 40 years, 25 of which he has to serve in prison and the rest on probation.

Upon release, Taylor will also have to:

• pay probation and attorneys fees;
• pay restitution in the amount of $4,467.48, which will go to the victim’s father, Frank Pierce;
• pay restitution in the amount of $3,000 to Crime Victims Compensation;
• have no contact with the victims’ father, victim’s sister Sarah Pierce or with fellow defendants;
• are barred from entering Cherokee County;
• must undergo substance abuse treatment;
• must not consume alcohol or use unlawful or narcotic drugs unless prescribed;
• must not associate with anyone who consumes or possesses illegal drugs;
• must not consume alcohol and operate a motor vehicle; and
• must not reside in a home where alcohol and illegal drugs are present.

Taylor, along with fellow defendants Krystle Gail Taylor, Benson Kyle Lloyd and Lindsey Morgan Campbell, were all arrested and charged in connection to the December 2013 shooting death of Pierce.

Detectives with the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 8, 2013, were called to Pierce’s home at 147 Misty Hollow Way in unincorporated Woodstock after the victim, who lived alone, was discovered dead by his father. The sheriff’s office issued warrants for the arrest of Lloyd, Krystle Taylor and John Taylor. All three were eventually arrested and charged with the crime.

Campbell was not initially arrested for the crime, but was later name a party to the crime in the indictment.

A Cherokee County grand jury in February 2014 indicted the four defendants on 13 counts, including two counts of felony murder and one count each of malice murder, burglary in the first degree, aggravated assault and possession a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Additionally, John Taylor, Krystle Taylor and Benson Kyle Lloyd were each charged with possession of methamphetamine.

John Taylor was also indicted with an additional count each of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by convicted felon and felony murder while Krystle Taylor was indicted on one count of theft by taking for allegedly taking Pierce’s .380 caliber handgun.

All four defendants initially pleaded not guilty to the slew of charges. However, in November, fellow suspects Krystle Gail Taylor, 28, Benson Kyle Lloyd, 28, and Lindsey Morgan Campbell, 26, all entered guilty pleas.

Krystle Taylor pleaded guilty to burglary in the first degree, possession of methamphetamine and felony theft by taking and was sentenced to 15 years, with seven to serve in prison and the rest on probation. Lloyd pleaded guilty to burglary in the first degree and received a 15-year sentence, five of which he will serve in prison and the rest on probation.

Campbell also pleaded guilty to burglary in the first degree and received a 10-year sentence. She will spend three years behind the bars and rest of her sentence will be served on probation.

Photo: John Michael Taylor. Credit: Cherokee Sheriff’s Office