November 19, 2021–6:35 p.m.
STAFF REPORTS
The last two defendants arrested in January of 2020 in a plot to murder a Bartow County couple entered guilty pleas Friday in Floyd Superior Court.
23-year old Luke Austin Lane of Silver Creek pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit murder and a single count of participation in gang activity for his involvement in “The Base” which prosecutors call a racially-motivated violent extremist group.
The Bartow County couple was targeted because the men believed they were members of an anti-fascist group.
Lane also pleaded guilty to possession of contraband and interference with government property for being found with a shank while incarcerated at the Floyd County Jail and for defacing the walls of his cell.
Lane was sentenced by Floyd Superior Court Judge Jack Niedrach to 30 years with 13 to serve in confinement.
Meanwhile, 21-year old Jacob Oliver Kaderli of Dacula pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit arson, participation in gang activity, and theft of livestock.
Kaderli was to burn down the victim’s home after the murders to destroy any evidence.
He also stole a ram, which was then shot and beheaded.
Kaderli was sentenced to 25 years, six to serve.
Judge Neidrach sentenced Kaderli as a youthful offender and a first offender because Kaderli was the youngest of the group and was the most vulnerable to the suggestion of others, his role was more limited than the other defendants, and because of his behavior during incarceration.
After successfully completing his sentence, Kaderli will get a fresh start. However, if he violates his probation he could be resentenced to the maximum.
On Wednesday, 27-year old Michael John Helterbrand of Dalton was sentenced to 40 years, 20 to serve for conspiracy to commit murder, participation in gang activity, and cruelty to animals for the killing of the ram.
You can read that story HERE.