Mohammed pleads guilty to 2nd degree murder

CONWAY, AR - A man who disappeared the day of his court hearing in 2011 pleaded guilty to second degree murder Friday in Garland County. The judge sentenced him to 55 years behind bars.

Karon Mohammed killed Shawn Robinson in 2009 in what his attorney and prosecutors call a “drug deal gone bad.” Mohammed was originally scheduled to have a hearing last June, but he didn’t show up.

The day of the hearing, someone called 911 from his apartment, claiming to hear a strange sound and requesting a patrol unit. The call then disconnected and the 911 caller never picked back up. Weeks later, Mohammed was found in Ohio.

An attorney for Mohammed says that he and his client never discussed how Mohammed ended up in Ohio. Prosecutor Joe Graham tells Fox 16 that he believes that Mohammed purposely left town because of the impending murder trial.

Mohammed pleaded guilty to 4 charges. He was sentenced to 40 years for 2nd degree murder and 15 years for the firearm enhancement, giving him 55 years. Mohammed also was sentenced to 6 years for probation violation and 10 years for failure to appear. Those 16 years will be served concurrently with the murder charge.

The earliest Mohammed could be paroled is in 12 years.