January 19, 2017 - A plea hearing was held in the 273rd Judicial District Court, Judge Charles Mitchell presiding, on Thursday, January 19, 2017 for four cases against Bret Wayne Anderson, including criminally negligent homicide, state jail felony; aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, second degree felony; burglary of a building, state jail felony; and deadly conduct, third degree felony.
The case against Anderson for deadly conduct just was entered on information January 18, 2017 and alleges Anderson recklessly engaged in conduct that placed Kristen Cooley in imminent danger of serious bodily injury by discharging a firearm at or in the direction of Cooley.
The burglary of a building case was also entered on information on the same date and alleges on December 4, 2016 Anderson entered a building or portion of a building without the consent of Patricia Belrose, the owner, and attempted to commit or committed theft of a plastic bin full of misc. hand tools, water pumps, a ladder, container with brass, Radio Flyer wagon, mountain bike, old metal antique car wheel, child's bicycle, shovels, rakes, and a truck tire.
August 3, 2016 Anderson was indicted by grand jury and the indictment alleges on November 28, 2015 Anderson threatened Christopher Barton with imminent bodily injury by pointing a hand gun at Barton.
The most serious of charges against Anderson, criminally negligent homicide, was in regards to the August 30, 2014 shooting death of Taylor Keith Keele. The grand jury indictment was handed down March 25, 2015 and it alleges on August 30, 2014 Anderson caused the death of Taylor Keith Keele by discharging a firearm, striking Keele in the chest.
Anderson entered a plea of guilty to all four charges. The penalty for each charge then carried with it two years imprisonment; however, they all are to run concurrent, meaning the total time of imprisonment could, per the agreement, at the maximum be two years.
Taylor Keele's mother, Tirrie McDonald, was allowed a victim impact statement and through tearful eyes strongly addressed the court as well as Anderson.
"As you know, Taylor Keith Keele was my son that was murdered. I have prayed, and I have talked to God, and I would like to let you know judge that I do forgive this person for taking my precious baby from me. But, I do not forgive the sentencing I do not understand it, because there's more evidence there that no one wanted to look at that I gathered on myself, that I worked for a year getting together and gave to the D.A., which then was Ken Florence who told me we had a good case and then all of a sudden this man over here, I don't even know this man (Stephen Shires).
"If any of you ever have a child taken from you whether an accident or not and three different stories given as to how he killed my baby, I think that needs to be further investigated, but you've done made your deal and you've done signed it (Judge Mitchell). So I just hope you can live with that too, because I have to because my baby's gone. He was only 21, just starting his life, while the one who took his life gets to keep going on and I know you know (Judge Mitchell) he's got more things against him and I don't understand the justice system, but I forgive you for that too.
"I forgive y'all, the lawyers, the D.A.'s, you (Judge Mitchell). I forgive you (Bret Anderson) for killing Taylor, I did that a long time ago, but it won't bring my baby back and I don't think two years is enough time, because he is a danger to society. What other mother is gonna have to sit here in two-and-a-half years and do the same thing before y'all take him off the streets for good. I thank you for your time and God bless you all, and I pray you never have to have this feeling in your heart."
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