A 35-year-old Gray, Tenn., man could be granted parole after serving less than four years in prison for a shooting death that occurred during a failed Piney Flats home invasion.
Bryan Keith Good was sentenced to 27 years in prison after being convicted of criminally negligent homicide, attempted aggravated robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm in 2008. He killed Michael Brandon Mottern, 25, with a shotgun at close range, according to court documents.
The Tennessee Court of Appeals reduced Good’s sentence to 21 years in 2010.
A parole hearing before a hearing officer was held Tuesday and the full parole board should make a decision in a week or two, according to Board of Probation and Parole spokeswoman Melissa McDonald.
The Department of Correction calculated Good’s eligibility for parole. He was required to serve 45 percent of the 21 years, just over nine years. Department of Correction spokeswoman Dorinda Carter said Good was given credit for time served while awaiting trial, good behavior and completing education programs.
The shooting occurred in 2006. Anthony Branche and Laura Carrier returned to their house on Allison Road. When their dog began barking, Branche stepped onto the front porch and saw two masked men, Good and Greg Jeffery Nutter, in the yard, according to court testimony.
Rather than call police, Branche phoned his brother, who drove to the home accompanied by Mottern. As the two men pulled into the driveway, they saw Good and Nutter at the side of the house. Mottern jumped out and chased them with a knife in his hand, according to court documents.
Good turned and fired a shotgun at Mottern, hitting him in the upper left chest, according to testimony. Mottern died at the scene.
Good’s conviction came partly from the testimony of Nutter, who pleaded guilty to facilitation of first-degree murder and was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Nutter said he and Good, both high on Xanax and marijuana, had gone to Branche’s house and Branche’s brother’s apartment earlier in the evening. Good claimed Branche owned him money and said his home contained drugs and money. They returned to Branche’s house later in the evening, hoping the couple was asleep, he said.
After Mottern was shot, Good and Nutter fled. Branche and his brother chased the pickup in another vehicle, not realizing Mottern had been shot. The two vehicles exchanged gunfire, according to court documents.
They returned to Branche’s house and discovered Mottern’s body.
During the investigation, detectives discovered what appeared to be blood stains inside Good’s truck and recovered a 12-gauge shotgun.
jshea@bristolnews.com
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