Dewan “Gully Boy” Dennis, 39, is already serving two consecutive life sentences for ordering an arson fire that killed three people in 2005.
Dewan "Gully Boy" Dennis
TRENTON — A member of the Bounty Hunter Bloods gang who is already serving two consecutive life sentences for ordering an arson fire that killed three people was sentenced today for another murder.
Dewan “Gully Boy” Dennis, 39, was given a 20-year sentence for ordering the murder of Denneshia Ledbetter in 2005. He was originally given a life sentence for that crime, but the conviction was overturned on appeal.
He was previously given two life sentences for ordering gang members to set fire to a home where one of his rivals lived on Ingham Street in Trenton on March 30, 2005.
Rasheen Glover, who had argued with a gang members days before Molotov cocktails were thrown into the house, died with his two daughters Janaya Glover, 6, and Jyasia Glover, 7.
Ledbetter, 22, of Somerset, was killed when he was gunned down in an alley near Trenton Central High School on April 21, 2005, three weeks after the fire. Dennis was tried separately for ordering the killing and convicted, but won an appeal in April 2011.
The appellate court ruled that the trial judge should not have given instructions to the jury instructing them that the failure of Dennis’ alibi witness to testify in court could count against him.
Dennis testified that he was in Willingboro recording rap music in a friend’s studio on the day that Ledbetter was shot. Dennis’ friend did not cooperate with the prosecution or defense and did not testify.
The case was returned to Superior Court and Dennis accepted a plea deal with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office in October, admitting to aggravated manslaughter.
Dennis expressed sorrow for his actions during the sentencing hearing before Judge Gerald Council today. His sentence will run concurrent to the life sentences already imposed.
“I wanted to apologize for my actions, for my decisions in April 2005,” said Dennis, clad in a prison-issued jumpsuit and shackled at the hands and feet.
“I experienced the same pain a few years before that because my brother was murdered,” he said. “I understand the pain of the Ledbetter family.”
Dennis will not have to serve any additional time for Ledbetter’s murder, but Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor Kimberly Lacken said that should not diminish the fact that his actions took another man’s life.
“Here a life was lost,” Lacken said. “It was an execution-style murder and it was absolutely senseless.”
Dennis said he had tried to change since he has been in prison and is working with groups in Trenton and Camden to try to quell gang violence in the cities.
“I am working to stop perpetuating the underworld of gang violence,” Dennis said. “It hurts me to see when I pick up the newspaper people getting hurt every day in gang wars. That is my mission now.”
Council urged Dennis to continue the work he has been doing working with gang members, because he has seen the number of shootings and gang-related violence swell.
“It is clear that you will not get out of prison,” Council said. “Whatever you can do to influence, to stop the violence, stop another murder, you should do. That is the redemption that would be appropriate.”