Published Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Fendley gets 10 years in drug case

By Elizabeth Richardson

The Times-Herald

Christopher Deon Fendley -- the 21-year-old Newnan resident acquitted in May of murder in the Nov. 23, 2007, shooting death of Bill Williamson Sr. -- was convicted of a drug charge on Monday and must now serve 10 years in prison.

Fendley pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute for a 2005 incident in which he was arrested for possessing 42 bags of crack cocaine, according to Assistant District Attorney Kevin McMurry.

Fendley, who was represented by attorney Rufus Smith, agreed to a blind plea on Monday in Coweta County Superior Court. He was sentenced by Judge William F. Lee to serve 10 years in prison, according to McMurry.

McMurry was pleased with the sentence imposed by Judge Lee.

On May 1, Fendley was acquitted of charges that included felony murder, criminal attempt to commit armed robbery, burglary, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Fendley had been accused of killing Williamson during a botched home invasion robbery on Roberts Road east of downtown Newnan.

The Coweta Circuit district attorney's office had questioned Fendley about the cocaine charge while he was on the stand testifying in his own defense on the murder charge. Fendley had told the court that he'd just been holding the drugs for someone else.