Sherman “Pee Wee” Houston, 56, of Logan was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the murder of Jimolee Workman in 2007.
Logan County Circuit Judge Roger Perry ordered Houston to be taken from the courtroom by court marshals when he apparently became irate after being given his sentence.
Houston’s co-defendant Amanda Lynn “Scrappy Doo” Carter, 30, of Whitman received a sentence of 28 years in prison late last week in for her role in Workman’s slaying.
Carter entered a guilty plea to second degree murder on Feb. 9 in order to avoid going to trial. In her plea agreement, she agreed to give testimony against Houston and acknowledged that Houston struck the fatal blows that resulted in Workman’s death as part of a plan the duo had to rob Workman of her money.
Carter admitted in court that she “knew about a plan to rob” the victim and that she “was there and watched Pee Wee kill Jimolee” and “after he killed her, I looked for things to take but didn’t take anything.”
Carter and Houston were in a relationship when the murder occurred. Carter told the West Virginia State Police that Houston took some boxes up to Workman’s apartment and came downstairs with money and the duo bought some alcohol and went to a nearby bridge and began drinking and talked about going back to rob Workman.
Carter said she waited outside while Houston struck Workman with “some kind of stick” until she was dead. Carter admitted they ransacked the apartment looking for money. Later, Carter denied her involvement in the crime.
Carter was given a polygraph on one statement, which she failed. Police say the duo got $240 out of the murder which they shared.
After Carter entered her plea agreement, Houston entered his own. Houston still maintained that it was his co-defendant who committed the murder, not him, in his plea.
Houston stated, “I sit on the steps while she (Carter) done robbery and murder. I also knew she was going to do this to Mrs. Jimolee Workman,” his court documents state. The documents also said Houston had been treated for mental illness and that he was addicted to drugs or alcohol.
During a preliminary hearing in the case, local police officers testified that statements the defendants gave when they were arrested amounted to “he said, she said,” as Carter claimed Houston killed Workman while she waited outside the victim’s apartment and Houston told officers that he waited outside while Carter committed the brutal crime in a fit of jealousy.
Police apparently had evidence for trial including hairs recovered from the victim’s hand and statements from at least one witness. Items belonging to Workman, including her I.D. were found under the bridge.
During the time the crime happened, both Houston and Carter were reportedly living under a bridge and at an old school.
No murder weapon was recovered, but there was a missing piece of wood from a large mirror frame.
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