Girl, 14, Sentenced to Life in Prison for Luring Man to Death
A 14-year-old girl was sentenced to life in prison for luring an 18-year-old boyfriend to his death at the hands of another boyfriend.
Darla Jo Swinford was too young under state law to receive the death penalty because she was under 16 when the crime was committed. She will become eligible for parole after serving 10 years.
After sentencing Tuesday, DeSoto County Judge George C. Carlson Jr. set bond at $20,000, and Swinford was freed pending an appeal.
Last month, a jury convicted Swinford in the Dec. 28, 1990, shooting death of James Michael Medlin.
Prosecutors said the girl lured Medlin to a deserted area where her 19-year-old lover, George Arthur Johnson Jr., killed him. Swinford contended that she had crouched behind Medlin’s car and did not know Johnson would kill Medlin.
Prosecutors said Swinford started dating Medlin to make Johnson jealous.
Johnson admitted firing the gun and is serving a life sentence for murder plus 20 years for conspiracy to commit murder during a robbery.
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