A 21-year-old man who prosecutors said drove to Charleston, West Virginia from Washington, D.C., to rob an apartment but ended up killing someone was sentenced to the maximum.
Mike’o Wooton had previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of 21-year-old Keyshawnta St. John on March 13, 2022.
During a sentencing hearing before Judge Maryclaire Akers on Tuesday, Akers sentenced Wooton to 40 years in prison, despite the state’s recommendation, as part of the plea agreement, of 20 years. The state also dropped a charge of use or presentment of a firearm in the commission of a felony as part of the deal.
Police responded to the shooting in the 1800 block of Bigley Avenue where St. John was found with multiple gunshot wounds. Police said St. John was shot multiple times. During victim impact statement’s given by four of St. John’s family members, they indicated St. John was shot seven times in the back.
Prosecutors previously said Foote and Wooton intended to burglarize an apartment on Bridge Road for methamphetamine but the plan fell apart, leading to the shooting that left St. John dead.
In May, Foote was sentenced to the Anthony Center after pleading guilty to a conspiracy to commit burglary charge in connection with the incident.
“He was taken from his son. His son was robbed a father that loved him beyond words. Their bond in six short months was strong and beautiful,” St. John’s godmother testified. “Keyshawn’s son is now my godson and I feel in my heart that I need to speak for him. He deserves justice. He can’t stand here and tell you how much he misses his dad but we see it everyday. It hurts.”
St. John’s father, who was in the home at the time of his son’s murder, also testified.
“You knew him, you went out with him more than once. For you to come into my home and take him out of here, you’re not God. I don’t know who you are but you aren’t the person you think you are. You should have never did what you did,” he said.
Wooton apologized to the family and said he was raised as a Christian.
“I did grow up Christian, I grew up a good man. My parents raised me better than this,” he said. “I know I’m going to spend a significant amount of time in prison. No matter how long it is, I got a lot to learn. I got a long road ahead of me.”
Akers said she believed Wooton knew better when he committed the murder.
“When you came to Charleston with the intention to rob someone, planning to use firearms to do that and then winding up in the situation where you took the life of Mr. St. John, is directly contrary to how you were raised and directly contrary to how you were educated too, sir,” Akers said, noting that he had graduated the Mountaineer Challenge Academy.
“You came to our community to commit a violent robbery and wound up committing a violent murder of a community member here,” the judge said. “What his father said is right, you’re not God. You don’t get to make those decisions.”
Akers ordered Wooton serve a determinate term of 40 years in prison. Second-degree murder is punishable to anywhere from 10 to up to 40 years in prison.
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