Shamone ‘Kadoff’ Woods also ordered to pay more than $31,000 in restitution
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
The third of four defendants charged with executing a 33-year-old Coatesville barbershop owner in 2006 received a mandatory life sentence for first-degree murder in Chester County Court on Monday.
With minimal comment, Judge David Bortner imposed the penalty on Shamone “Kadoff” Woods, 32, of Coatesville. The judge also ordered Woods to spend prison terms of 18 to 40 years for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and four to eight years for burglary; however, those penalties will run concurrently.
According to trial testimony, Eric Coxry, 36, of Philadelphia, received $20,000 from Woods to have Jonas “Sonny” Suber killed on Oct. 21, 2006, an execution for which he enlisted Jeremiah “Young” Bush, 27, of Philadelphia, to serve as his getaway driver. Woods was carrying out a directive from Duron “Gotti” Peoples, 35, of Coatesville, who had a grudge against Suber, the owner of Platinum Cuts in Coatesville, because Suber allegedly slept with Peoples’ girlfriend.
Bortner explained that because he had no discretion on the life sentence and because Peoples, who could face the death penalty, is awaiting trial, it was not appropriate to elaborate. He said his brevity should not suggest that he did not recognize the seriousness of the crimes or “the personal grief and life-altering consequences” for the victims, two of whom spoke at the hearing.
The victim’s mother, Donna Suber Pendleton, expressed gratitude to the police, the prosecutors, who included Deputy District Attorney Ronald Yen and Assistant District Attorney Brian Burack, and the jury for obtaining justice in the case. She said people have suggested that her son has wings now, but “Shamone’s wings have been clipped today.”
Bashera Grove, the victim’s widow and mother of their 7-year-old daughter, witnessed the murder and said it has been excrutiating to observe Woods’ lack of remorse. “He needs to be in jail for the rest of his life,” she said. “I don’t know him, but I know he’s caused me a lot of pain.”
Evan Kelly, Woods’ attorney, said his client wanted to make a statement; however, he advised against it because Woods is facing a post-conviction hearing in an unrelated shooting case. “Both of my attorneys told me not to say anything,” Woods told the judge.
In addition to the prison term, Bortner ordered Woods to pay more than $31,000 in restitution, which includes expenses for the funeral, coroner, state police laboratory, and the Crime Victims Assistance Compensation Fund.
