By Rose Laudicina
Staff Writer
HILLSBOROUGH – After a month of complicated, confusing and detailed testimony in the trial of the State vs. Brian Gregory Minton, on Tuesday the jury found Minton guilty on all charges, including the first-degree murder of Joshua Bailey.
Closing arguments in the trial were heard on Monday and the jury began deliberations on Monday evening shortly before court was adjourned. They returned at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday and reached a unanimous decision by 3:30 p.m.
Minton, 21, was found guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree kidnapping.
As the verdict was read, Bailey’s family and friends who filled two rows of the courtroom pews gasped and grabbed one another’s hands as some began to cry, seemingly relieved.
On the opposite side of the courtroom, Minton and his parents, who were sitting behind him, remained motionless as the clerk read out the verdict. Minton only showed emotion as the judge and Orange-Chatham District Attorney Jim Woodall began talking about sentencing.
“I do believe Brian Minton is extremely dangerous,†Woodall said, asking Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson to sentence him to more than life in prison because of the potential for legislation regarding sentencing to change in the future.
“He should be in the North Carolina Department of Corrections for the rest of his natural life,†Woodall said.
During this exchange, Minton slumped over in his chair, shook his head and put his head in his hands, as the reality of the jury’s verdict seemed to sink in.
“Mr. Glover,†Hudson said as he addressed the defendant and his attorney, James Glover, “you told us at one of the breaks that you have been practicing law for over 40 years. I’ve been a judge for 27 years, and this is as cold-blooded a killing that I have seen in 27 years.â€
On the charge of first-degree murder, Hudson sentenced Minton to life in prison without the benefit of parole. On the count of first-degree kidnapping, he received a minimum of 116 months and a maximum of 149 months in prison, to be served at the expiration of his life sentence. The court arrested judgment on the conspiracy to commit first-degree kidnapping, meaning Minton was instead only sentenced for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, which Hudson determined was to be served by a minimum of 220 months or a maximum of 273 months in prison, starting at the expiration of his first-degree kidnapping sentence.
Prior to the sentencing, Bailey’s parents addressed the courtroom to tell those in attendance about who their son was, beyond what was said about him in testimony.
“Joshua McCabe Bailey is my son, or rather he was my son before this cold-blooded act ended his life,†Julie Jarrell Bailey said.
“During this trial we heard a lot of some of Josh’s shortcomings and weaknesses and what he did wrong, but nothing about his strengths. Josh loved adventure and just about anything relating to the outdoors,†she said, painting a picture of who her son was and who he could have grown up to be, as many jury members and others wept.
Julie Bailey also addressed Minton and his parents directly, looking them in the eye and reprimanding them for what they allegedly did to her son.
“This is a horror I will never be able to comprehend or come to terms with for the rest of my life,†she said.
Mishele and Greg Minton were also charged in the murder of Josh Bailey, as accessories to murder after the fact, and Julie Bailey said she held them partially responsible for what happened to her son.
Steve Bailey told the court about the impact his son’s death has had on him, his wife and Josh’s two brothers.
“Our life has been changed forever,†he said. “I still have nightmares, imagining Joshua’s torturous last hours. We rarely get sleep, and we cry every night.â€
Although Minton declined to address the court, his attorney spoke on his behalf to the Bailey family. “From me and from Brian, I am sorry about Josh.â€
Glover said that Minton plans to appeal and will be appointed a public defender by the court.