Albertville woman pleads guilty to 20-year sentence for killing woman found in ditch
ALBERTVILLE, Alabama (WHNT) – After entering a “blind” plea of guilty, an Albertville woman has been sentenced to 20 years in the death of a Douglas woman.
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Leslie K. Sims, 41, was charged with first degree murder in November 2021 Confession of killing 32-year-old Jana Miller Chatman during a police interrogation.
The police investigated Chatman’s death after her body was found lying in a ditch next to a crashed vehicle in Albertville on November 5, 2021. Investigators reportedly found several bullet casings at the scene.
Court documents show Sims was indicted by a Marshall County grand jury on February 22, 2022. After the alleged confession, she was taken to the Albertville City Jail and held on $1 million bail.
Sims had initially pleaded not guilty at her indictment hearing in May 2022. In February 2023 She made a “blind” plea of guiltyor a guilty plea without sentence, because of the lesser charge of manslaughter.
According to court documents, Sims was sentenced to 20 years in state prison by Marshall County Circuit Court Judge Christopher F. Abel.
