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JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (WJHL) — A tragic June 2023 robbery in Johnson City has resulted in life sentences, with the possibility of parole, for a father and son duo who fatally shot a convenience store clerk.
In Criminal Court, under the watchful eye of Judge Stacy Street, attorneys Cameron Hyder and Erin McArdle negotiated a plea deal for Mark Sexton Jr. and his son, 20-year-old Mark Sexton III. The agreement was finalized with the somber presence of Tava Woodard’s family, the 23-year-old victim of the crime.
Originally facing charges of first-degree murder and especially aggravated robbery, the Sextons had the latter charge dropped as part of the plea arrangement.
Both men accepted “best interest” pleas, acknowledging guilt for first-degree murder. This requires them to serve their sentences fully, although parole remains a future possibility.
Surveillance footage from the Roadrunner Market at 408 N. Broadway captured the chilling moment when the Sextons robbed the establishment, culminating in Sexton Jr. firing a fatal 9mm shot at Woodard.
After the Sextons accepted their plea deals, Woodard’s loved ones delivered victim impact statements. Woodard’s mother, Melissa Moore, read her impact statement first, emotionally telling the court how her life had been forever changed by her daughter’s murder.
“Even still now, I wake up thinking this can’t be real,” Melissa Moore said. “It must be a mistake or a nightmare. The reality of my daughter’s death continues to feel impossible to fully process, and my mind struggles to reconcile what I know to be true, but my heart cannot accept.”
She asked that the Sextons serve their time apart from one another since she can no longer see her daughter.
“The continued proximity for the majority of the last two and a half years between the individuals is deeply distressing and re-traumatizing,” she said. “I never get to see my daughter again because of the actions of this parent and his son. Forcing me to know that they could even see each other again adds an unnecessary and ongoing layer of trauma to a loss that is already permanent.”
Judge Stacy Street later told the court that it is common practice for the Tennessee Department of Correction to house co-defendants in separate facilities, but that would ultimately not be up to the court.
Moore also read a statement from Woodard’s sister, who was 15 years old at the time of the murder.
Darrell Moore, Woodard’s grandfather, addressed the Sextons and told them they killed his granddaughter “for no good reason.” He issued the father and son a challenge, hoping that they would seek to do good acts in memory of his granddaughter.
“I challenge you both as you spend most, if not all, of the rest of your lives in prison, I challenge you both to do something – anything – once over the next several decades that makes someone else’s life better. Anything,” Darrell Moore said. “And I want you to thank Tava for the opportunity to perform this good, unselfish deed at least once before you die.”
Melissa Moore told News Channel 11 outside of the courthouse that she and her family were pleased with the outcome and were grateful the process was over.
Sexton III, who shot Woodard, took to the podium and told the family he was remorseful and regretted killing her every day. He said he knows he cannot expect their forgiveness, but hoped they could eventually be in less pain.
“I can’t expect you to ever forgive me for a mistake I wish that I could take back every day,” Sexton III said. “I’m sorry that I took away your daughter. I’m sorry I took away your sister. I’m sorry that I took away a friend. And I’m sorry that I ruined the chance for somebody so good to now never have the chance to live a full life.
“I never meant to kill her, and again I’m so sorry, and I hate that you go through the hurt every day. I know my words may not mean anything, but I just wanted you to know that I’m very remorseful, and I’m sorry every day that you have to live with it. And I live with it too. Every time I lay in bed at night, I see her face, and I hate it.
“I just want you to know I apologize. I know that don’t fix anything, but I hope one day you can at least get somewhere that you don’t feel all the hurt that you do now.”