Man accused of multiple murders sentenced to two life sentences

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - The man accused of multiple murders in DeKalb County as well as Atlanta will be spending his life behind bars.

A DeKalb County Judge Gregory Adams sentenced Aeman Presley on Monday to two life sentences without the possibility of parole for killing a homeless man and a popular Smyrna hair dresser. Presley escaped the death penalty by pleading guilty to the crimes.

Prosecutors said Presley’s first victim was Calvin Gholston, a homeless man who was killed on September 26, 2014 as he slept outside a Stone Mountain strip mall. Less than three months later, on December 6, 2014, hair stylist Karen Pearce was robbed and then shot on as she was leaving a restaurant in Decatur.

“His actions were monstrous and had severe consequences on the lives of several individuals,” DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James wrote in a statement sent to FOX 5 Atlanta. “Although he accepted responsibility for his actions, when a person commits crimes this terrible, he deserves to go to prison for the rest of his life.”

John Bullock told the court his friend of 16 years, Karen Pearce, was kind, benevolent and always helping others, even strangers.

“The world is a smaller place without Karen in it,” Bullock said. “She often would stop on the street and put money in a hat or hand it to whoever was sitting there. She believed in the underdog.”

Presley attempted to explain his actions to the court.

“I am not a serial killer. I am a brother that had some real serious issues and problems, who did some things that I am not proud of,” said Presley.

Presley went on to say his actions were ungodly. He apologized to the families of the four victims and closed by sending a message to his own three children.

"I want to show them what taking responsibility for your actions… truly is and truly means, my apologies to you all,” said Presley.

Fulton County prosecutors have not said if they plan to continue with their cases against Presley. He is charged in the fatal shootings of Dorian Jenkins and Tommy Mims, two homeless men who were wrapped up in blankets when they were shot in Atlanta the week of Thanksgiving in 2014.

Presley was eventually apprehended after MARTA police stopped him for not paying to ride and found a gun on him that detectives say matched the murder weapon.