Judge sentences James Worley to the death penalty

A Fulton County judge has sentenced James Worley to the death penalty. Judge Jeffrey Robinson affirmed a Fulton County jury’s death penalty decision for the man accused of killing Sierah Joughin.

Judge Robinson affirmed that decision Wednesday afternoon. In

Ohio, a judge can change a jury’s death penalty decision and instead sentence a person to life in prison.

Worley was convicted of kidnapping Joughin in 2016, killing her and burying her body in a Fulton County corn field.

In that sentencing memorandum filed last week Worley’s attorneys cited a few reasons why Worley’s sentence should be given a life sentence.

His lawyers cited Worley’s mental illnesses and disorders. Those were documented by a doctor during the penalty phase of the trial.

Those illnesses include ADHD, paranoia and obsessive compulsive traits among other issues.

Worley’s lawyers also cited the cost of a death sentence and proportionality of a death sentence. Those lawyers cited the recent murder trial of Brian Golsby. He’s the man accused of killing Anthony Wayne graduate Reagan Tokes in Columbus.

Golsby received a life sentence. Worley’s lawyers requested that same sentence.