Ernest Wallace Convicted of Accessory to Murder; Acquitted of Murder
Bristol County District Attorney’s Office
Thomas M. Quinn III
District Attorney
Press Release
May 12, 2016
Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced that a Fall River Superior Court jury this afternoon convicted Ernest Wallace of Accessory to Murder After the Fact connected to the June 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd in North Attleboro. The jury also acquitted the defendant of murder.
The jury deliberated for about eight hours during the course of two days before returning its verdict shortly before 4 pm today.
The defendant was immediately sentenced by Judge E. Susan Garsh to serve four-and-a-half to seven years in state prison. Deputy District Attorney William McCauley argued that the defendant should serve the maximum seven year state prison sentence due to the facts of the case. The defendant, through his attorney, requested a three-and-a-half year state prison sentence during today’s sentencing hearing.
Mr. Wallace’s co-defendant, Aaron Hernandez, was convicted last April of the First Degree Murder of Mr. Lloyd and is currently serving a life prison sentence with no possibility of parole. Another co-defendant, Carlos Ortiz, is slated to go to trial in October.
”I very much respect the jury’s verdict. They apparently felt that there wasn’t sufficient evidence to prove that Wallace and Hernandez were acting in concert to kill Odin Lloyd. I am happy the jury found that the defendant was guilty of accessory after the fact to murder and was involved in the attempt to cover up the crime. I am pleased he will serve a state prison sentence,” District Attorney Quinn said. ”I have great respect for the jury system and want to thank the members of the jury for their service in a long trial. I would like to express my appreciation and admiration for the effort of our prosecutorial and investigatory team. They have made great personal sacrifices to obtain justice for Odin Lloyd, his family and the community.”
Contact:
Gregg Miliote
Director of Communications
508-997-0711
774-292-9576–cell