Sentence handed down in murder case

Bourbon County District Judge Mark Ward handed down a sentence Wednesday morning in the case of a 17-year-old charged in a 2011 stabbing death.

With attorneys from both sides of the case present, William Goodbody was sentenced to serve the state-recommended 60 months in a juvenile correctional facility with an aftercare term until age 23 for his involvement in the May 21, 2011, killing of 23-year-old James C. Enloe, a former resident of Mapleton. Goodbody was originally scheduled to be sentenced last month but the date was moved to Wednesday.

If Goodbody violates the juvenile sentence or terms of the aftercare, the court will request that an additional 117-month adult sentence in the Kansas Department of Corrections be imposed.

Aftercare is similar to parole, mandating that Goodbody check in regularly with a parole or probation officer as he readjusts to society.

Goodbody was also ordered to not have any contact with the victim's family and will be assessed all court costs and expenses related to medical treatment of the victim. He will also be required to register as an adult violent offender.

Goodbody pleaded guilty in January to second-degree murder. Ward accepted the plea and ordered pre-dispositional and pre-sentence investigation reports be conducted to determine the juvenile's criminal history and where the crime falls on a sentencing grid.

Ward said the reports showed no prior criminal history for Goodbody. The reports were also reviewed by prosecutors and Goodbody's attorney, Gil Gregory.

During the proceeding, Ward asked Goodbody if he had anything to say before his sentence was imposed.

After a lengthy pause, an emotional Goodbody replied, "I'm sorry for all the grief I have caused."

As he looked out at members of the victim's family who were present, Ward made some final comments to Goodbody after the sentence was issued and before court was adjourned.

"I think you would agree that this is a tragedy that could have been avoided all the way around," Ward said. The judge added that he hopes Goodbody takes advantage of the programs available to him while incarcerated so he will "never be in court again."

Goodbody will continue to be detained at the Southeast Kansas Juvenile Detention Center in Girard until he is moved to the Topeka Juvenile Correctional Facility to serve his sentence.

If the level-two felony had been committed by an adult, it would carry a minimum sentence of 109 months and a maximum of 493 months. According to the plea agreement, Goodbody faced commitment to a juvenile correctional facility for a minimum of 24 months, up to a maximum of 60 months or until he turns 22 1/2 years of age.

Goodbody, who was 16 at the time of the offense, was arrested in May 2011 in connection with Enloe's slaying. Goodbody was taken into custody, transported to the SEKJDC and charged with second-degree murder.

The Bourbon County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to Hidden Valley Lake, a private recreational development near Mapleton, the evening of May 21 after a report of a disturbance. Officers arrived shortly after 9 p.m. and found Enloe with multiple stab wounds to his body. Enloe was transported to Mercy Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A continuance was granted in the murder case last September. Assistant County Attorney Valorie Leblanc was the prosecutor on the case.