WILMINGTON — A day after pleading guilty to the second-degree murder of Ben Privott, 17-year-old Cory Sullivan was sentenced in New Hanover County Superior Court.
Judge Jay Hockenbury sentence to a minimum of 144 months and a maximum of 180 months. Sullivan’s sentence will be reduced by 496 days, credit for his time served since his arrest in 2016.
After accepting a plea deal, Sullivan was sentenced only for crime of second-degree murder. Hockenbury added that his sentencing was was limited to a relatively small, 19-month window by the nature of Sullivan’s plea.
Hockenbury told Sullivan that he would likely leave incarceration at a younger age than Ben Privott was when he was killed. Hockenbury asked Sullivan to take advantage of the resources in prison, and to dedicate the rest of his life to helping others. The judge said it was the only way he could make amends to his own family and the family and friends of Privott.
The sentencing began at 9:30 a.m. with capacity court room. The adjacent lobby was full, with Sullivan’s classmates and friends and family of Privott, those who arrived to show solidarity with Privott’s loved ones wore purple ribbons.
Prosecutor Charity Wilson reviewed evidence of the impact of Privott’s death, including photos of Privott with loved ones, including Sarah Rushing, who was engaged to marry Privott. The proceedings were emotional; at one point, Lt. A.D. Long, commander in the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Judicial Division, had to step away into the hallway.
“It’s too much,” Long said. “It’s just too much.”
The case stems from Privott’s death last year. Early Friday morning, April 22, New Hanover County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a home in Kings Grant after Sarah Rushing, Privott’s fiancee, found him. Rushing had gone looking for Privott after he had taken their dog for a walk and had not returned.
Responding deputies found Privott lying in the front yard and road with a fatal stab wound. At the time, Sheriff Ed McMahon called the incident “a random act of violence.”
Sullivan was arrested and charged as a juvenile. Chief District Court Judge J. Corpening then requested that Sullivan be charged as an adult.
More information followed, including the fact the Sullivan’s father — Kyle Sullivan — was a volunteer chaplain with the Sheriff’s Office. Kyle Sullivan had been in the position since 2013.
The Sheriff’s Office charged Sullivan with first-degree murder, as well as, robbery with a dangerous weapon, breaking or entering into a motor vehicle and misdemeanor attempted larceny. These charges indicated to officials that at least some explanation for the killing. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Privott had interrupted Sullivan in the middle of breaking into a car.
Privott was well-known in the Wilmington area and played in various groups, including No Dollar $hoes, Pale Rider, Creekside and Onward, Soldiers. In the wake of his death, the many musicians he had performed with honored him with a performance.
In the summer of 2017, musicians gathered again to remember Privott, this time on his birthday. The event – which organizers hoped was the inauguration of a new annual tradition – was intended to honor his life, rather than to serve as a memorial for his death.
Later that summer, Sullivan’s case was continued to November. The trial was set to begin with motions on Monday, Nov. 5, but instead Sullivan’s defense entered a plea of second-degree murder. The prosecution dropped all other charges, and Sullivan was set to be sentenced.
Send comments and tips to Benjamin Schachtman at [email protected], @pcdben on Twitter, and (910) 538-2001.
