GUILTY MT - James Hurley, 12, tortured to death, W. Yellowstone, Feb 2020 grandparents & uncle arrested #2

[arielilane]

Teen uncle accepts plea deal in 12-year-old West Yellowstone boy's death

BOZEMAN, Mont. - The 15-year-old uncle of James "Alex" Hurley, who was murdered in February in West Yellowstone, accepted a plea deal in a Gallatin County courtroom on Thursday.

www.montanarightnow.com

 

[arielilane]

Guilty plea in the murder of 12-year old West Yellowstone boy

Now, only one of five people arrested connected to the West Yellowstone boy’s death - his grandmother - remains to be adjudicated.

 

[arielilane]

Prosecutor withdraws death penalty request in West Yellowstone homicide case

Audrey Cromwell, Gallatin County Attorney, filed a Withdrawal of Notice of Intent to Seek the Death Penalty Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, in the Patricia Batts case.

www.krtv.com

Two other people were charged and pled guilty in connection with Alex’s death. James Sasser Jr., 49, pled guilty to felony deliberate homicide, felony child endangerment and felony tampering with a witness in August 2021. Judge John Brown sentenced him to serve 100 years for the homicide charge and 10 years each for the child endangerment and tampering charges. James Sasser III pled guilty to felony deliberate homicide and, in October 2020, was sentenced to the Montana Department of Corrections until he is 18 years old.

Batts’ jury trial is currently scheduled to begin on July 10, 2023.

 

[Niner]

Mother of murdered West Yellowstone boy speaks out ahead of Patricia Batts change of plea hearing

Patricia Batts, the grandmother of Alex Hurley, is facing four felonies surrounding the death of her grandson and is scheduled for a change of plea hearing Friday, May 26.

www.kbzk.com

May 25, 2023
James Alexander Hurley was the 12-year-old boy that was found dead in his grandparents’ home in West Yellowstone on February 3, 2020. Five people in total have been charged, and the final person to get their day in court is his grandmother, Patricia Batts.

Patricia Batts, the grandmother of Alex Hurley, is facing four felonies surrounding the death of her grandson and is scheduled for a change of plea hearing Friday, May 26.

Plea deal reached for West Yellowstone woman accused in grandson's death

A plea agreement has been reached in the case against a Gallatin County woman accused of beating and torturing her 12-year-old grandson.

www.bozemandailychronicle.com

May 25, 2023
A plea agreement has been reached in the case against a Gallatin County woman accused of beating and torturing her 12-year-old grandson.

Patricia Batts is expected in Gallatin County District Court Friday for a change of plea hearing. The plea agreement comes four months after Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell withdrew the county’s intent to pursue the death penalty against Batts.

The details of the agreement were unavailable Thursday. A hearing is scheduled for Friday [5/26/23] at 1:30 p.m. in front of Gallatin County District Court Judge John Brown.

 

[Niner]

Friday, May 26th:
*Change of Plea Hearing (@ 1:30pm MT) – MT – James Alexander Hurley (12) (found Feb. 3, 2020 deceased in living room, West Yellowstone) - *Patricia “Trish” Lynn Batts (48/now 50) aka Patricia Sasser & Patricia Rone (paternal grandmother) arrested (2/12/20), charged (2/13/20) & arraigned (3/24/20) with 1 count of felony deliberate homicide. Charged (3/5/20) & arraigned (3/24/20) with aggravated kidnapping, criminal child endangerment & 1st degree strangulation. Plead not guilty to all charges. $750K bond. DA will seek DP. DA will not seek DP (1/27/23).
Trial set to begin on 7/10/23. (thru 8/4/23)
James' info & Court info from 2/13/20 thru 6/6/22 reference post #60 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...0-grandparents-uncle-arrested-2.574078/page-3
6/6/22 Update: Craig Shannon, a criminal defense lawyer & a member of Batts’ defense team, began the hearing saying that the death penalty should not be implemented in this case because Patricia did not intend or attempt to kill anyone. For each motion, the defense presented their argument to Judge John Brown, elaborating the unconstitutionality in the issue they’re presenting, followed by County Attorney Marty Lambert & Deputy County Attorney Bjorn Boyer to address the issues & present the State’s answer to the motion. Throughout these motions, the judge often asked questions to either the defense lawyer or prosecutor to gain further understanding. The next steps for Batts’ case will be the proposed orders from counsel to Judge Brown. In these hearings it is standard practice to not decide on a motion until a later date. Several items argued were in the vein of the same core issue, such as the determination of sentencing—in which two separate motions were filed for different amendment violations—but to hear all motions took the entirety of the day. For each motion, the defense presented their argument to Judge John Brown, elaborating the unconstitutionality in the issue they’re presenting, followed by County Attorney Marty Lambert & Deputy County Attorney Bjorn Boyer to address the issues & present the State’s answer to the motion. Throughout these motions, the judge often asked questions to either the defense lawyer or prosecutor to gain further understanding. The next steps for Batts’ case will be the proposed orders from counsel to Judge Brown. In these hearings it is standard practice to not decide on a motion until a later date. Judge Brown is expected to make a ruling on whether or not Batts will face the death penalty on 8/1/22.
1/27/23 Update: Audrey Cromwell, the Gallatin County Attorney, filed a Withdrawal of Notice of Intent to Seek the Death Penalty on Friday, January 27, 2023, in the Batts case. Batts’ jury trial is currently scheduled to begin on 7/10/23. 2/2/23 Update: The West Yellowstone homicide case involving Batts will now be prosecuted through the Prosecution Services Bureau at the Attorney General’s Office. The Gallatin County Commission approved the case to be moved to a sector of the Attorney General's Office. Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell did confirm that Judge John Brown will remain the sitting judge on this case and the court proceedings.
5/25/23 Update: A plea agreement comes four months after Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell withdrew the county’s intent to pursue the death penalty against Batts. The details of the agreement were unavailable Thursday. Change of plea hearing on 5/26/23.
*James Danny Sasser, Jr. (47/now 49) (paternal grandfather) - 3/4/22: was sentenced to 100 years for the count on deliberate homicide on 3/4/22 Friday afternoon by Judge John Brown. He was also sentenced to 10 years for the charge of criminal child endangerment & 10 years for tampering with evidence.
*James Danny Sasser III (14/now 16) (2/12/20 date of offense) - 10/29/20: Judge Brown handed down a sentence that requires the teen to be detained at a juvenile detention facility until he turns 18. After his release, he will be on probation until he turns 25. The 15-year-old will not be registered as a violent offender.
*Gage Anthony Roush (18/now 20) - 11/18/20: Per peal deal Roush was given a 5 year deferred sentence for assaulting James.
*Madison Sasser (18/now 20) - 1/29/21: Per plea agreement Madison was sentenced to youth probation with the Montana Dept. of Corrections until she turns 21. After that she’ll be on adult probation until she turns 25. As part of a plea deal, prosecutors dropped the felony negligent homicide charge against her. Part of plea agreement she will testify at trial.

 

[Niner]

short video on this link (the 2nd one).

Batts reportedly reaches plea agreement in West Yellowstone homicide case

A plea agreement has been reached in the case against Patricia Batts.Batts will appear in court Friday for a plea hearing.She is charged with deliberate homicid

nbcmontana.com

Batts is charged with five felonies, including deliberate homicide, aggravated kidnapping, criminal child endangerment, strangulation of a partner or family member, and tampering with witnesses and informants.
With the plea agreement Batts plead guilty to deliberate homicide, criminal child endangerment & tampering with witnesses & informants. Sentencing on 7/11/23.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — A Montana woman charged with torturing and killing her 12-year-old grandson in early 2020 has pleaded guilty to deliberate homicide in an agreement that calls for her to spend the rest of her life in prison. Patricia Batts was charged in the death of James “Alex” Hurley at her house in West Yellowstone. The boy had been living with Batts and her husband following the death of the boy’s father, who was Batts’ son. Gallatin County prosecutors alleged Alex was beaten and tortured by family members and denied food. Investigators found cellphone videos of the family torturing the boy. Batts entered her plea on Friday and her sentencing is set for July 11 in Bozeman.

Patricia Batts leaves the courtroom at the Law and Justice Center after a change of plea hearing on Friday, May 26, 2023, in Bozeman, Mont. Batts pleaded guilty to deliberate homicide in the 2020 death of her 12-year-old grandson James “Alex” Hurley. (Samuel Wilson/Bozeman Daily Chronicle via AP)

wire

www.observertoday.com

 

[shotgun09]

Thankful she is in for life. Justice for Alex!
I still wish that the monster that was his 'Uncle' was sentenced, but...
If wishes were horses....

Peace

 

[arielilane]

@imstilla.grandma, thank you for the update. Glad this monster (one of many in the horrible torture of Alex) got what she deserves. moo

 

[arielilane]

West Yellowstone woman pleads guilty to deliberate homicide in grandson's death

https://twitter.com/x/status/1662225996240785408

bozemandailychronicle.com | Empowering the community

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle is the newspaper of record for Bozeman and southwest Montana -- Empowering the Community.

www.bozemandailychronicle.com

A West Yellowstone woman pleaded guilty Friday to three felony charges stemming from the killing of her 12-year-old grandson in early 2020 as part of a plea agreement.

Patricia Batts pleaded guilty to charges of deliberate homicide, criminal child endangerment and tampering with a witness or informant in Gallatin County District Court for her role in the death of her grandson, James Alex Hurley.

Gallatin County District Court Judge John Brown presided over the hearing and questioned Batts on whether she was sure about changing her plea, and outlined the contents of the plea agreement.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Montana woman pleads guilty to killing grandson; plea deal calls for life sentence

A Montana woman charged with torturing and killing her 12-year-old grandson in early 2020 has pleaded guilty to deliberate homicide.

www.kfyrtv.com

 

[mickey2942]

West Yellowstone woman pleads guilty to deliberate homicide in grandson's death

A West Yellowstone woman pleaded guilty Friday to three felony charges stemming from the killing of her 12-year-old grandson in early 2020 as part of a plea agreement.

www.bozemandailychronicle.com

Same information as above. Sentencing will be July 11. Recommendations are LWOP.

 

[mickey2942]

This was so senseless. Batts had a family, spouse, two children and James Hurley was living with her, all she had to do was be a decent human. Let the child go to school, not use him as a human punching bag. Is that so difficult?!

Now, her spouse is in prison for life, her son is incarcerated, her daughter has a record, all because Batts couldn't just leave James alone. She allowed others to torture him, and they filmed the torture on their phones. What is with these people?!

 

[Lusitana]

This was so senseless. Batts had a family, spouse, two children and James Hurley was living with her, all she had to do was be a decent human. Let the child go to school, not use him as a human punching bag. Is that so difficult?!

Now, her spouse is in prison for life, her son is incarcerated, her daughter has a record, all because Batts couldn't just leave James alone. She allowed others to torture him, and they filmed the torture on their phones. What is with these people?!

He went there to be with his father, the right thing to do was to let this poor boy return to his mother when his father died but they decided to torture him. This monster loved his son SO MUCH, and yet killed his son? She killed her grandson, the son of the son she loved so very much. How is this possible? Monsters!

 

[neesaki]

This was so senseless. Batts had a family, spouse, two children and James Hurley was living with her, all she had to do was be a decent human. Let the child go to school, not use him as a human punching bag. Is that so difficult?!

Now, her spouse is in prison for life, her son is incarcerated, her daughter has a record, all because Batts couldn't just leave James alone. She allowed others to torture him, and they filmed the torture on their phones. What is with these people?!

I know. Apparently sadistic sociopaths can’t control their sadistic impulses.

 

[Niner]

Sentencing pushed back for West Yellowstone woman who pleaded guilty in grandson’s death

The sentencing for a West Yellowstone woman who pleaded guilty to deliberate homicide in her grandson’s death has been pushed back several weeks.

www.bozemandailychronicle.com

June 21, 2023

The sentencing for a West Yellowstone woman who pleaded guilty to deliberate homicide in her grandson’s death has been pushed back several weeks.
Patricia Batts was originally scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, but Gallatin County District Court Judge John Brown moved to delay the date until Aug. 22 at a hearing on Wednesday.

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, August 22nd:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ am MT) – MT – James Alexander Hurley (12) (found Feb. 3, 2020 deceased in living room, West Yellowstone) - *Patricia “Trish” Lynn Batts (48/now 51) aka Patricia Sasser & Patricia Rone (paternal grandmother) arrested (2/12/20), charged (2/13/20) & arraigned (3/24/20) with 1 count of felony deliberate homicide. Charged (3/5/20) & arraigned (3/24/20) with aggravated kidnapping, criminal child endangerment, 1st degree strangulation & tampering with witnesses & informants. Plead not guilty to all charges. $750K bond. DA will seek DP. DA will not seek DP (1/27/23).
Trial was set to begin on 7/10/23 was cancelled due to plea deal & a guilty plea.
James' info & Court info from 2/13/20 thru 2/2/23 reference post #85 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...0-grandparents-uncle-arrested-2.574078/page-5
5/25/23 Update: A plea agreement comes four months after Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell withdrew the county’s intent to pursue the death penalty against Batts. The details of the agreement were unavailable Thursday. Change of plea hearing on 5/26/23.
5//26/23 Update: Batts is charged with five felonies, including deliberate homicide, aggravated kidnapping, criminal child endangerment, strangulation of a partner or family member, and tampering with witnesses & informants. With the plea agreement Batts plead guilty to deliberate homicide, criminal child endangerment & tampering with witnesses & informants in an agreement that calls for her to spend the rest of her life in prison. Sentencing hearing on 7/11/23.
6/21/23 Update: The sentencing for Batts was originally scheduled to be sentenced on 7/11/23, but Gallatin County District Court Judge John Brown moved to delay the date until 8/22/23 at a hearing on Wednesday.
*James Danny Sasser, Jr. (47/now 49) (paternal grandfather) - 3/4/22: was sentenced to 100 years for the count on deliberate homicide on 3/4/22 Friday afternoon by Judge John Brown. He was also sentenced to 10 years for the charge of criminal child endangerment & 10 years for tampering with evidence.
*James Danny Sasser III (14/now 16) (2/12/20 date of offense) - 10/29/20: Judge Brown handed down a sentence that requires the teen to be detained at a juvenile detention facility until he turns 18. After his release, he will be on probation until he turns 25. The 15-year-old will not be registered as a violent offender.
*Gage Anthony Roush (18/now 20) - 11/18/20: Per peal deal Roush was given a 5 year deferred sentence for assaulting James.
*Madison Sasser (18/now 20) - 1/29/21: Per plea agreement Madison was sentenced to youth probation with the Montana Dept. of Corrections until she turns 21. After that she’ll be on adult probation until she turns 25. As part of a plea deal, prosecutors dropped the felony negligent homicide charge against her. Part of plea agreement she will testify at trial.

 

[arielilane]

Alex will be (italic by me) remembered by his loved ones. The monstrous disgusting "family" not so much. moo

As Patricia Batts awaits sentencing, her former neighbor talks about the impact of Alex Hurley's murder

For Missy Finney, reading the headlines and watching the news stories surrounding the Alex Hurley case brings up emotions and memories of him growing up as her neighbor.

www.kbzk.com

last updated 10:35 PM, Jul 11, 2023

Missy Finney has lived in West Yellowstone for 17 years, a stone’s throw away from the old Sasser/Batts house, and remembers the times when the neighborhood was filled with the noise of kids coming down to visit her home.

“You could hear them coming. That was the funny part because they weren’t quiet,” laughed Finney.

Alex Hurley was among the children that would come down and visit her home to play with her kids.

“He was bubbly, he was always smiling, he was a happy kid, he interacted well with others,” Finney said. “I enjoyed the time that he came over and spent; it was fun to have him over here when he was.”

 

[mickey2942]

West Yellowstone woman receives life sentence for deliberate homicide of grandson

Patricia Batts was sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday for the deliberate killing of her 12-year-old grandson in West Yellowstone.

www.bozemandailychronicle.com

Life in prison, without parole. Torture a child to death. At least she got more than I expected.