Jeffery Leon Davis, of Selma, pled guilty to manslaughter in the death of Hosea James Williams yesterday.

Davis was originally charged with capital murder in the case, which can result in the death penalty, but made a plea agreement with the District Attorney’s office for a life sentence.

Williams was shot and killed behind J.C. Penny’s at the Selma Mall on June 23, 2003.

According to a statement made by the defendant at the time of his arrest, Davis said he owed Williams a drug debt, and was unable to pay.

According to Davis, Williams pulled a gun on him, Davis took the gun and was forced to shoot him.

“I felt like the evidence indicated there was more to it than that,” District Attorney Ed Greene said.

The victim, a known drug dealer according to officials, often carried a gun with him, Greene said. Detectives found the gun in the trunk of Williams’ car, under the tire well. Greene said this evidence cast doubt on Davis’ story.

A 6-year-old girl, the daughter of the victim’s girlfriend, witnessed the crime.

Greene said that several witnesses said that Williams’ attachment to the child made Davis’ story unlikely.

“It didn’t seem right that (Williams) would draw a weapon and brandish it around with this beloved child sitting next to him,” Greene said.

Greene said the girl identified Davis as the shooter.

“The little girl said that orange man shot her daddy,” Greene said. The child called Davis the orange man because of his hair color.

A black bag, in which Williams reportedly kept his money and drugs, was missing when police found the body.

After Davis was arrested, about $600 and a Masonic ring was found in the suspect’s possession.

Davis was at Williams’ home the night before, according to testimony Greene collected. He traded the ring and a watch to Williams at that time.

Through the course of the trial, Greene said he believed they could get a guilty ruling on a murder charge, but wanted to get a life sentence in the case.

The defense agreed on the life sentence, but pleaded the case down to a manslaughter charge.

Manslaughter cases usually have sentences of two to 20 years, Greene said. Because this one involves a gun, the minimum sentence is 10 years. Davis’ criminal history, including prior drug arrests, made him eligible for life in prison.

Greene said the charge wasn’t as important to his office as the sentence.

“I think (the manslaughter charge is) the way to get where we want to go,” Greene said.

Davis won’t be eligible for parole anytime soon.

“He can get parole,” Green said. “(but) there won’t be any real consideration for at least 15 years.”