Prentis Earl Smith, II, 42, of Marion County, was convicted of murder after a four day jury trial which ended on July 16, 2021. Smith was sentenced by the same jury that found him guilty to 75 years in prison. The victim, Frederick Wayne Thomas, 28, also of Marion County, was shot in the face and neck at Smith’s residence on May 7, 2018 Sheriff David McKnight, now retired, was the first officer to respond to the scene and Life Flight was requested for Thomas who was in critical condition. Thomas died 3 days later in a Shreveport hospital.
The case was tried in the 276th District Court with the Honorable Robert Rolston presiding. Multiple witnesses testified, including Sheriff McKnight, Deputy Frank Cason, Deputy Robbie Davis, a forensic pathologist from Dallas and a blood analysis expert from Austin, Texas. Angela Smoak, the Marion County District Attorney represented the State of Texas in the trial. Defense counsel was Johnathan Hyatt.
The defendant, Prentis Earl Smith, testified at trial and claimed that he fired the gun, which allegedly belonged to the victim, in self defense. The jury rejected his claim and came back with a guilty verdict after several hours of deliberation. They were sent back to assess punishment and came back that same day with the 75 year sentence. Smith had two prior felony convictions. Smith has indicated he wants to appeal the verdict and Judge Rolston has appointed an attorney from Morris County to represent Smith on appeal.