New Castle youth, 16, sentenced to 8 years for role in fatal shooting
NEW CASTLE, Ind. — Sixteen-year-old Adrian James Dukes of New Castle was sentenced Friday to eight years in prison — the maximum penalty under the terms of a plea bargain — for his role in a May 2023 homicide.
Dukes had pleaded guilty to unlawful transfer of a handgun used to commit murder, a Level 3 felony carrying up to 16 years in prison.
Dukes, after being waived from juvenile jurisdiction into adult court, was charged last November with aiding, inducing or causing murder. That count will be dismissed as part of the agreement leading to the teen's guilty plea to the gun charge.
Dukes had been accused of providing a co-defendant — who was 13 years old at the time — with the handgun used to fatally shoot Ernest Thornsberry Jr. The 47-year-old New Castle man was gunned down as he walked near 21st Street and A Avenue on May 2, 2023.
The younger teen, who will turn 15 later this month, was charged with murder after he was waived into adult court last August. His trial is set for Aug. 19.
In court on Friday, Dukes offered an apology to Thornsberry's family and maintained he was unaware the other teen would use the gun to commit murder.
"I'm very sorry for what happened to Ernest Thornsberry," Dukes said. "I wish this never happened."
Investigators said there was no indication the teens had been acquainted with the shooting victim.
However, Dukes acknowledged his co-defendant had earlier made remarks about firing gunshots at a person or a house.
Dukes' defense attorney, David Seiter of Fishers, said his client made a "stupid, child-like decision to let (the younger teen) leave with a handgun."
"He realized when the shots were fired that he had made a grave mistake," the attorney said.
Seiter noted his client cooperated with police in their investigation of the slaying. He testified at the trial of a New Castle man who had been accused of, among other things, hiding the firearm after Thornsberry's death.
The defense attorney also said Dukes had paid a price for that cooperation, being subjected to attacks by his co-defendant and that teen's associates at a state Department of Correction facility in Pendleton.
Seiter asked Dukes to show Judge Bob Witham bruising on his arms, and said his client had other signs of abuse.
"This continues to be a problem, judge," Seiter said.
The defense attorney recommended Dukes be allowed to serve his sentence on home detention.
Henry County Prosecutor Michael Mahoney recommended the sentence that Witham imposed — eight years of incarceration followed by four years on probation.
Mahoney said "without (Dukes') behavior," Thornsberry would not have been shot.
Judge Witham gave Dukes credit for 186 days already spent in custody. He also said he would recommend state prison officials take steps to protect the teen from abuse while incarcerated.
Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Teen draws 8-year sentence for role in New Castle homicide
