Hall and Nelson Sentenced for Murder

Hall and Nelson Sentenced for Murder

POMEROY, Ohio – Two men will be spending the rest of their lives in prison for the murder of Kane Roush.

According to Meigs County Prosecuting Attorney James K. Stanley announces on November 14, 2022, Jaquan Hall, 22, of Charleston, West Virginia, Keontae Nelson, 20, of South Charleston, West Virginia and Richard Walker, 21, of Charleston, West Virginia were each sentenced for their roles in the murder of Kane Roush, 25, of Pomeroy, Ohio on April 4, 2021.

On October 4, 2022, following a twelve-day jury trial, Hall was convicted of Aggravated Murder, an unclassified felony, Murder, an unclassified felony, Complicity, an unclassified felony, and Conspiracy, a felony of the first degree.  The convictions included a firearm specification.  These offenses merged for the purpose of sentencing, and Hall faced a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.

On October 25, 2022, following a seven-day jury trial, Nelson was convicted of Aggravated Murder, an unclassified felony, Murder, an unclassified felony, Complicity, an unclassified felony, Conspiracy, a felony of the first degree, Burglary, a felony of the second degree, and Tampering with Evidence, a felony of the third degree.  The convictions included a firearm specification.  These offenses merged for the purpose of sentencing, and Nelson faced a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.

On September 9, 2022, Walker pled guilty to Conspiracy and Burglary.  The State recommended a sentence of 15 to 20.5 years in prison in exchange for Walker’s truthfully testimony at trial against both Hall and Nelson.  The evidence in this investigation showed that Walker did not shoot Roush.  The plea agreement was made in consultation with and agreement by law enforcement and Roush’s family.

Stanley argued for the maximum sentence of life in prison without parole for both Hall and Nelson.  Meigs County Court of Common Pleas Judge Linda R. Warner sentenced Hall and Nelson both to life in prison without parole.  Stanley asked Judge Warner to follow the plea agreement and sentence Walker to 15 to 20.5 years in prison, which Judge Warner did.

“These convictions are the result of hundreds of hours of continued investigation over the course of seventeen months.  The Meigs County Sheriff’s Office, the Meigs County Major Crimes Task Force, and Ohio BCI did an incredible job piecing this case together,” Stanley said.  “With today’s sentencing, the trial phase of this case came to a close, and justice has been served for Kane and his family.  My thoughts and prayers continue to be with Kane’s parents as well as his other family members and friends.”

The Meigs County Sheriff’s Office, the Meigs County Prosecutor’s Office, Ohio BCI, Middleport Police Department, Pomeroy Police Department, Mason County Sheriff’s Office, West Virginia State Police, Charleston Police Department, South Charleston Police Department, Maryland Transit Authority, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission Major Crimes Task Force investigated this matter.