Man guilty of murder getting parole

By Jessie Burchette jburchette@salisburypost.com A man sentenced to 50 years in prison for a drive-by shooting death in 1990 has been paroled after 19 years. Gabrill Monik Maxwell, 36, who was convicted prior to the adoption of the state's Structured Sentencing guidelines, was paroled recently to Rowan County. A release from the N.C. Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission noted the state's current sentencing law eliminates parole for crimes committed on or after Oct. 1, 1994. The Commission has the responsibility of paroling offenders who were sentenced under the previous guidelines. Maxwell was one of three men who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of 22-year-old James Michael "Mike" Robinson on April 2, 1990. The shooting occurred at the corner of West Bank and Partee streets, which at the time was considered a "drug corner" because of drug activity. According to police reports and court records, Maxwell, who was 17 years old and lived at 202 Mitchell St., East Spencer, fired a sawed-off shotgun at Robinson. Reports showed several gunshots struck Robinson. An autopsy revealed he was shot with a shotgun and a handgun, with either of the wounds considered fatal. Maxwell, Earl Douglas Stallings, Jerry Lamont Ellis and Claude Edward Knox were all initially charged with first-degree murder. Maxwell, Stallings and Ellis agreed to a plea bargain offered by District Attorney Bob Roberts and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. They were sentenced to 50 years in prison apiece. Knox, who helped police identify the other defendants, got a 10-year sentence. Police reports and defendant statements indicated the shooting was tied to drugs. Robinson had accused Ellis and Maxwell of stealing $8,000 from his home. A psychologist testified during the sentencing phase that Maxwell was easily led and showed poor judgement. According to the N.C. Department of Correction Web site, Stallings has been released on parole in Guilford County. The Web site shows parole has been terminated for Ellis, but it does not indicate where he is being held in the state prison system.