Man pleads guilty to capital murder

A Philadelphia man charged with capital murder in a 2019 dice game gone bad faces 40 years in prison after accepting a plea deal.

Marcello Young, 22, was charged with capital murder in the May 11, 2019, slaying of Kelsey Ingram, 18, of Louisville. 

The incident was believed to have been the result of the dice game gone bad at a mobile home on County Road 737. Young also faced armed robbery and aggravated assault charges.

Earlier this month, Young received a sentence of 40 years with 10 years suspended and 30 years to serve. He will be on probation once he gets out of prison. He was facing two life sentences and additional 45 years, said District Attorney Steven Kilgore.

“I guess he looked at the evidence and decided it was in his best interest to plea,” said Kilgore. “He ended up pleading guilty to manslaughter and armed robbery.”

In another case, James Ficklin, 47, was found guilty of taking a motor vehicle. He received a 10-year prison sentence with eight to serve.

There were two trials in which not guilty verdicts were returned. Kevin Ryals, 41, 1112 Kosciusko Road, was found not guilty of statutory rape. Justin Winstead, 10521 Road 515, was found not guilty of sexual battery.

The courts are working through a backlog of case caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Most everything has been moved to the regular November term for Neshoba,” Kilgore said. “We have been busy in Scott County.