Nava pleads guilty to murder

Photo by Alison James
Angel Campos Nava is led into the Franklin County Courthouse Monday.

By Alison James
alison.james@fct.wpengine.com

Angel Campos Nava, 39, originally indicted on a capital murder charge in February 2013, pled guilty to murder in court Monday in Russellville.
Nava, who was accused of the murder of longtime girlfriend Lesley Hope Plott, faces life in prison, with possibility of parole. If paroled, Nava – who required interpretation through the course of the proceedings – would likely be deported to Mexico.
DA Joey Rushing said the agreement to accept a guilty plea on a lesser charge – murder instead of capital murder – came following a series of conversations with Plott’s family, who ultimately agreed it was the best move.
“Any time there is a murder or death that occurs as a result of a fight, you always have to worry that a jury might come back with manslaughter,” said Rushing – a result that would have meant a much-reduced sentence: a maximum of 20 years in prison. Rushing said the murder charge ensures Nava will spend “an excessive amount of time in jail.”
Nava’s counsel, Rebecca Green Thomason and John McReynolds, also agreed that this plea agreement was the best course of action for Nava.
The sentence was handed down by Judge Mark Craig of Lawrence County.
Plott’s mother, Donna Plott, took the stand following sentencing and addressed Nava through her tears. She asked him, “Why?”
“You hurt her family so bad,” Plott said. “We were there for you when your own family turned their backs on you … This family has suffered so much.
“I have forgiven you. I pray you would forgive yourself and ask God to forgive you,” she finished, sobbing.
Lesley Hope Plott’s sister Selena also had something to say to Nava.
“I still don’t know why you did this,” she said. “I forgive you. I forgive you because it’s something I need to do in the process of moving on. But just because I forgive you doesn’t mean I forget.”