Officer’s killer draws 35-year prison sentence

KeShone Smith was found guilty of first-degree murder of Pine Bluff Police Det. Kevin D. Collins in 2020 and was sentenced to a total of 35 years in state prison inside Judge Jodi Dennis’ 11th West Circuit Fifth Division Courtroom on Friday.

A jury of seven men and five women deliberated the verdict for four hours — not counting a lunch break — before coming to a unanimous decision that Smith, who was 19 at the time of the incident, used a firearm as a means of committing the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Dennis read the verdict after receiving it from the foreman of the jury, prompting no visible reaction from either the prosecution, defense or gallery.

Smith was sentenced to 30 years for the conviction and received an additional five years for using a firearm. He will be eligible for parole after serving at least 70% of each sentence, which is 21 years for the conviction and 3½ years for the firearm enhancement. Dennis said Smith would receive credit for time served.

Smith was charged with capital murder, but the jury did not find that prosecutors proved he killed Collins in a premeditated and deliberate manner. Jurors even requested at one point to break from deliberation to watch again one of three video clips from the Oct. 5, 2020, shootout that resulted in Collins’ death.

Smith, however, was acquitted of two counts of first-degree battery, one involving Pine Bluff Police Lt. Ralph Isaac and the other involving Dave Wright, a witness who was in the same vehicle Smith dove into when a shootout started at the Econo Lodge Motel on North Blake Street. Collins was struck by gunfire, collapsed near one of the two police-issued vehicles that moved in to apprehend Smith on active felony warrants out of Georgia, and died at Jefferson Regional Medical Center.

One other officer, Isaac, was wounded in the shootout. He testified during the second of the five-day trial inside the Jefferson County Courthouse.

Collins’ mother, Dornetta “Donna” Hobbs, took the witness stand during the sentencing phase and propped a framed illustration of her son, fighting back emotions in her prepared statement. She did not address Smith.

“No mother or parent should have to bury their child,” Hobbs said. “Kevin — I’m talking to Kevin — your life of 35 years was fulfilled by a duty to serve and protect. This is not closure. We will never have closure; there is never closure without having my baby back, but this is part of the process.”

Hobbs also described how Collins, who had two older sisters, would lock them up in a closet when he was a kid dreaming of being a policeman and was always concerned with doing the right thing. Collins has been honored throughout Pine Bluff since his death, including an annual ceremony at police headquarters celebrating his life and service, a police training center at the Civic Center named after him and a scholarship in his memory established by New Life Church.

“You are the picture of a true community police officer,” Hobbs said in her testimony. “Kevin raised the bar for good law enforcement.”

After her statement, Hobbs embraced Smith’s mother, Valerie Marks, who was also visibly emotional over the verdict. Both Marks and defense attorney Lee D. Short declined comment.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys both agreed to take the death penalty off the table during a hearing in January, leaving Smith with the possibility of being sentenced to life without parole if he was convicted of capital murder. Smith was also accused of wounding Isaac and Wright during the shootout.

“I think the prosecutors did a good job and that justice prevailed,” Hobbs said. “In a democratic society, the process is set up, the process came back — guilty in the first degree of murder. I’m OK.”

Hobbs stated in her testimony she does not advocate for the death penalty.

“I prayed about it, and it worked out,” she said. “I think everybody deserves a chance to change. Death [of Smith] wasn’t going to bring Kevin back. Death wasn’t going to change [Smith], probably. His mother’s hurt. She’s hurting like I’m hurting. This may give them the chance to rebuild their relationship, to share that love with each other.”

Smith did not address Collins’ family or issue an apology but asked Dennis if his family could receive all evidence presented in court. Dennis advised only pictures that were presented as evidence may be copied for the family.

“Whatever force is in him that’s allowing him to think negative things, I want him to think positive about himself and about other people, about his child that’s growing up,” Hobbs said of Smith. “Sow good seeds. And I think rehabilitation, that’s what our system is built on. So, while he’s there — I’m not saying he doesn’t know God — but get closer to God, closer to his family, love his kids and love himself.”