Video: Two More Suspects In Foiled Judge Kidnapping Plot Get Day In Court

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – The sentencing hearing for William Randolph took less than half an hour.  Randolph pleaded guilty Friday to one count of conspiracy to commit burglary and one count of conspiracy to kidnap.

Randolph, along with Matthew Fowler, and Thomas Waddell, were arrested in January 2016,  after witnesses overheard them plotting to burglarize the home of Judge Paul Funderburk, and kidnap the judge if he happened to be at his residence.

Fourth Judicial District Court Judge Betty Sanders sentenced Randolph to 10 years in prison, with five suspended.

Next on the docket, a plea hearing for Thomas Waddell. The Nettleton resident plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit burglary and one count of conspiracy to kidnap.

Waddell admitted he was abusing illegal drugs when he made the threats against Judge Funderburk, but since then, claims he has turned his life around through a Christian based rehab program.  In fact, he works at a ministry in Nettleton.  His attorney said her client requested a sentencing hearing, rejecting a deal offered by the state.

“That’s what he stated to the court that he has changed his life and found Christ.  And it’s just my belief also, that even though people may commit a crime and I’m not saying whether he committed it or didn’t, but he did plead guilty, that everybody doesn’t necessarily need to be incarcerated,” said Waddell’s attorney, Shirley Byers.

The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office is prosecuting all three men.  Stanley Alexander is director of the division for public integrity at the AG’s office.  He says it’s good to have the cases wrapping up.

“This is a very serious crime, we have to give credit to sheriff’s department for going out and making an arrest after the investigation because we shudder to think what could have happened if they had gone through with the plans they had made, this was not a joking matter,” Alexander said.

Thomas Waddell will return to the Lee County Justice Center on April 21st.  His attorney will present character witnesses, in hopes of getting a lighter sentence.

Matthew Fowler also pleaded guilty.  He was sentenced to 10 years, with five suspended.