Published: November 05, 2009 11:43 pm      

Harris sentenced to prison in Fannin County murder

After being found guilty by a jury, a Fannin County man changed his plea to guilty to avoid being sentenced to life in prison in connection with the 2008 death of a local resident.

Fannin County District Attorney Richard Glaser said Bo Bailey Harris, 20, was sentenced Wednesday to 45 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Institutional Division for the murder of William Ian Adams of Greenville.

“This gives some closure, some finality to the family,” Glaser said.

Harris was also sentenced to prison and state jail after his probations on two charges of burglary were revoked.

Harris was found guilty Tuesday by a jury in a state district court in Bonham of the murder, following six days of testimony. The jury was also in charge of determining punishment and Harris was facing a maximum sentence of from five to 99 years to life in prison, with the punishment phase beginning that afternoon, although Glaser said Harris had a change of heart Wednesday.

“Not quite midway through the punishment hearing, the defense changed the plea to guilty, in exchange for a sentence of 45 years,” Glaser said, adding the defendant waived his right to appeal the verdict and sentence.

Harris also had a probation on a charge of burglary of a habitation and probation on a charge of burglary of a building revoked. Harris was sentenced to 20 years in prison and two years in a state jail — the maximum sentence on each charge — for offenses which occurred in Fannin County, Glaser said.

“This clears up a lot of stuff,” Glaser said. “It does bring closure to it.”

Harris had previously admitted to killing Adams, 22, at a location just north of the Hunt/Fannin county line.

Greenville Police Department officers, responding to a report of a stolen car in the city late on the night of April 21, 2008, received information that a murder had been committed in Fannin County, then contacted authorities there.

Investigators later discovered Adams’ vehicle at Harris’ residence in the Gober community. Fannin County Sheriff’s officers and Texas Ranger Brad Oliver arrived and made contact with Harris, who was brought back to the sheriff’s office where he was reported to have confessed to stabbing Adams the night before and gave the location of Adams’ body, which was located along Fannin County Road 3735, just north of Wolfe City.