Beaufort, South Carolina — The man convicted in a Lowcountry shooting has said he deserves a second chance in court, saying his attorneys withheld key facts from him.
“I went to court.” I thought I’d get a 30-year sentence and that the state wouldn’t offer me life, but they did.” explained Jimmie Green.
Green was found guilty as one of the gunmen who shot and killed DJ Fields in March 2021, in a fatal case of mistaken identity.
WSAV was the only station there when Green testified at his post-conviction relief hearing.
Green alleges the state misled to him, promising him that prosecutors would not pursue a life sentence if he pleaded guilty.
“We get to court, and they ask for life,” Green said. “When we go to plea court and they asked for life and he didn’t object, which I think that he should have, or what he told me was a lie.”
Green and Ty Chaneyfield were notified about some of the “opps” or opponents they were seeking for that night. They arrived at the site, and Chaneyfield opened fire on Green’s automobile. Fields was killed, and his two passengers were injured. None of the passengers in the car were the pair’s chosen targets.
Green pleaded guilty last year and was sentenced to 40 years in jail. Green’s old attorney testified that Green did not oppose to the punishment.
“We talked to him and his family,” Green’s trial lawyer, Fred Woods, revealed. “We entered the plea room. I sat alongside Mr. Green at the counsel table. Tony Snow, Woods’ law partner, sat with us as well. We had discussed everything with Mr. Green that morning, and he stated he was ready to go. We continued.”
Woods claimed that after Green’s plea, he stopped asking questions.
“Did Mr. Green ever request that you file a motion to reconsider the sentence?”
Woods said, “No.”
“Did Mr. Green ever ask you to file notes of appeal?”
Woods said, “No.”
After Green and his counsel presented their case for a fresh trial or a reduced punishment, attorneys for the State questioned him on the stand. Green was asked just two questions.
“Do you recall, the solicitor said before you pled guilty, that I had explained to the defense counsel, regardless of if the defendant pleads guilty or goes to trial, I would still be asking for a life sentence after that,” the attorney replied.
“Yes,” responded Green.
“And you still decided to proceed forward.”
“Yes. “My lawyer should have objected,” Green explained.
“Nothing further, Your Honor.”
Green is requesting a fresh trial or a lesser sentence.
A court heard both sides’ arguments and is anticipated to announce a decision in the coming weeks.
