Pittman sentenced for manslaughter of Willie Ellison

By Carrie A. Mizell

Trenton native Samuel Lane Pittman was sentenced last week to 9.25 years in prison for the 2008 death of Willie James Ellison.
Pittman was scheduled to go to trial this week, but instead entered a no contest plea to manslaughter charges last Thursday afternoon. Pittman has served two years, three months and one day in the Gilchrist County Jail since being arrested for Ellison’s death. That time spent behind bars will be credited to Pittman’s nine-year, three-month and 15-day sentence.
Ellison’s brother David Ellison, also of Trenton, spoke last week in the courtroom and said that he forgives Pittman for killing his brother and that the situation could have easily gone the other way with Willie Ellison killing Pittman.
Pittman was arrested after Ellison’s body was found on June 4, 2008 in a wooded area off Tyler Grade.
Ellison died of two gunshot wounds, one to the chest and one behind the ear.
Pittman reportedly killed Ellison with a 12-gauge shotgun that was later recovered in the Suwannee River.
Pittman will be moved from the Gilchrist County Jail to a state prison within the next few weeks.