Lewis pleads guilty to 2006 murder

A jury was scheduled to be seated today in the first-degree murder trial of Brady Joe Lewis, who was charged in connection with the Dec. 10, 2006, burglary and shooting death of Douglas A. Penfield Jr. But the jury selection never happened because Lewis chose Wednesday to plead guilty to second-degree murder. A sentencing has been scheduled for May 15 before Superior Court Judge Jerome Leveque. According to court records, the 32-year-old Lewis admitted to planning a burglary and robbery against Penfield, who was active in dealing drugs. Penfield’s roommate came home to 5923 N. Regal St. on Dec. 10, 2006, and found him shot to death on the couch. She called authorities, who determined that Penfield died from six gunshots to the head and one to the neck, court records state. Ten days after the killing, detectives located Lewis, who had been identified by witnesses as leaving the scene of the homicide. Lewis “admitted that he planned the burglary … and acted alone when he entered Penfield’s residence through an unlocked front door,” detective Terry Ferguson wrote in her report. Penfield awoke during the burglary and Lewis “shot him several times in the face. “He admitted to putting a coat over his (Penfield’s) head so that he would not get blood on him when he hugged the victim and apologized for his actions,” Ferguson wrote. Lewis then took a bag containing about $6,000 and a safe that had about 26 ounces of methamphetamine inside.