Brandon Murray sentenced to 5 years after admitting probation violation

Brandon Murray pleaded true to an alleged probation violation in 2015 CR12011 and the court sentenced him to five years in prison.

The hearing began with the state presenting a motion to revoke Murray’s community supervision, alleging he failed to report to his supervision officer across multiple months. When asked how he pled to the alleged violation of condition number five, Murray answered, "True." The court explained that, if it found the violation proven, Murray could face up to six years in prison and a $1,500 fine.

The court found the violation true. "The court is going to sentence you to 5 years in the prison," the judge said, rejecting a proposed two-year agreement after describing Murray’s transfers out of county, participation in inpatient treatment in Arkansas, and subsequent return to substance use and criminal behavior.

The judge entered an affirmative finding of family violence, ordered Murray to receive credit for any time already served and imposed a $1,500 fine to run concurrent with time. The court prohibited contact with the complainant, ordered that Murray not reside in households with minors and barred unsupervised contact with minors. The court also noted an existing Arkansas matter that will run concurrent to the new sentence.

Before closing the matter the judge admonished Murray about his responsibilities as a parent and the risks of continued substance involvement, saying, in part, "you shouldn't be selling. You have a child to take care of." The court advised Murray of the limited right to appeal and reminded him that, because of the felony conviction with an affirmative family-violence finding, he is prohibited from possessing weapons or ammunition.

The judge told Murray to begin making better choices and closed the hearing with standard procedural instructions and credit calculations.