By MATT THACKER
Matt.Thacker@newsandtribune.com
> SOUTHERN INDIANA —
A 19-year-old Charleston, W. Va., woman was sentenced to 30 years in prison Tuesday in the Christmas Eve shooting of a Jeffersonville man.
Kianna S. Ball entered a plea agreement July 22 for class A felony robbery. The plea was accepted Tuesday in Clark County Circuit Court. She admitted to taking a Ford Windstar van from Reinaldo Santiago, 39, while armed with a handgun.
According to prosecutors, Ball shot Santiago in the head during the robbery Dec. 24. Santiago survived but suffered a fractured skull and was left permanently blind.
Carlton Wright, 25, of Maywood, Ill., and Ball met Santiago outside America’s Best Inn in Clarksville. They reached an agreement for Ball and Santiago to engage in sexual activity for money.
After meeting at his home, Santiago was driving the two back to the motel. At Walnut and Market streets, he became nervous and decided to exit the vehicle. Prosecutors said Wright held Santiago as Ball pulled a gun from her purse and shot him.
Ball’s attorney, Jennifer Culotta, has said that her client was manipulated by Wright. She said Wright told the 19-year-old to shoot or he would shoot her.
Wright was convicted of class A felony robbery, class D felony criminal confinement and class A misdemeanor resisting law enforcement at a jury trial in June. Judge Dan Moore sentenced him to 50 years in prison.
Wright had argued he was not trying to rob anyone and did not know Ball would shoot Santiago.
