Sentence reduced for Tallassee residents convicted of murder

Tallassee residents Ladrequez Holloway and Zan'guintavius Hughley were sentenced June 30 to 20 years in prison for the murder of Julio Mercado.

Seventeen days later, Holloway and Hughley were granted a split-sentence with five years to serve in prison and 15 on probation. This decision was made without a hearing or allowing the family of the victim to speak again by Fifth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Kevin Hall. Hall was the judge who originally sentenced the defendants in June and was informed by attorneys for Holloway and Hughley of the intent to ask for a split-sentence.