A Jones County man received the maximum sentence for manslaughter Thursday during Jones County Circuit Court proceedings.

Kenneth Demon Jones, 23, with a Taylorsville address, pled guilty to manslaughter for the shooting death of 18-year-old DeMario Crosby.

Jones entered his guilty plea before Circuit Court Judge Billy Joe Landrum, who sentenced Jones to the maximum 20 years in prison.

Jones was charged in connection to the death of Crosby, which occurred on October 24, 2007 in the Hebron/Summerland Community off of Old Palestine Road.

District Attorney Tony Buckley said Jones and Crosby knew each other.

“The two individuals had previously been friends and had had a falling out, resulting in Kenneth Jones shooting DeMario Crosby,” Buckley said. “Jones reportedly shot Crosby one time with a handgun, before fleeing the scene.”

In May 2008, a Jones County Grand Jury indicted Jones in connection with the October 24 shooting death. Preliminary results from the autopsy performed by the State Medical Examiner’s office indicated that Crosby was shot once in the face from a range of six to eight inches.

As the shooting occurred, according to investigators, Crosby was holding his one-year-old son in a child carrier seat.

Witnesses said Crosby was lying on his driveway and the baby was in the car seat next to him. Diapers were scattered over the driveway, and a baby bottle was nearby, authorities said.

Jones later surrendered to deputies.

Buckley said Jones’ plea completes his office’s work on this case.

“I’d say that I was pleased with the outcome of the case at getting a lengthy plea without the necessity of a trial or appeal,” the district attorney said. “I remain focused on prosecuting violent offenders and my condolences go out to the Crosby family, who has been very supportive of my office.”

Buckley said there were pleas in over 20 other cases during court Thursday, including eight more from the recent Laurel drug roundup.