East received a minimum of 10.75 years and a maximum of 13.66 years for the crime that happened at David’s House at 711 W. Atkins St. on May 25, 2009.
A group of about 22 of Love’s supporters sat on the right-hand side of the courtroom. Each member of the group wore a button with a picture of Love.
East took a plea bargain down from the original charge of second-degree murder.
During the hearing, Judge Moses Massey, the presiding judge, asked at what grade level East was able to read and write. East responded “sixth or seventh.” Massey asked if East was under the influence of any medication that would cause him to not think clearly. East said, “No.”
East was represented by court-appointed Attorney Charles Briggs. The case was presented by Assistant District Attorney Jimmy Yeatts.
“Do you now personally plead guilty to the Class D felony voluntary manslaughter?” asked Massey. “Now I ask you sir, are you in fact guilty?”
“Yes,” responded East.
One of the aggravating factors in East’s sentencing, Massey said, is that Love was mentally handicapped.
Dobson Police Chief Shawn Myers, who initially investigated the case, said Love’s family contacted his department a day after the May 25 incident, because they did not believe the account David’s House officials had given them.
Yeatts described the events leading up to Love’s death.
“Mrs. East and Mr. East had a little small dog. According to Mrs. East, Mr. Love pushed his foot at the dog. Mrs. East went to Mr. East and related that to him. Mr. East, at that time was walking with a cane and after being told that the dog had somehow been touched by Mr. Jeremy Love, he made some statement to the effect, ‘Oh no he didn’t.’ He proceeded to walk some 20 to 30 feet over to Jeremy Love, who at the time was sitting down. Mr. East approached him, Mr. Love recognized that he was upset with him and started to get up and Mr. East proceeded to beat him over the head with a cane. It appears that he hit him at least twice in the head with the cane,” Yeatts said.
At the time of the investigation, East admitted to striking Love with a cane several times in the head, arm and shoulder. David’s House officials originally told the police that Love had been in an altercation with East, but had fled, falling over some bicycles and striking an air conditioning unit before hitting the back of his head on a concrete porch, Myers said.
Love died four days after the alleged attack at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center with injuries to the right side of his head, which is in keeping with East’s account of the attack, Myers said. The police chief said video of the incident also seemed to support East’s contention that he struck Love in the head with his cane.
East was arrested on the day that Love died on an unrelated charge after he allegedly threatened to beat a David’s House employee with his cane, Myers said. He was charged with communicating threats.
An autopsy on May 26 ruled Love’s death a homicide, and warrants were issued charging East with second-degree murder on May 29.
East has a criminal history, having served time for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, assault on a female, driving while impaired and driving without a license, Myers said.
“We feel like the mental health system has failed us and so many other families. It failed Mr. East, too. He probably should not have been allowed to stay there because of his impulsive nature,” said Vickie Cheek, Love’s mother.
Cheek said she didn’t want to comment on the case as there is another case pending against the David’s House officials for the way the attack was initially handled.
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