Final Defendant Sentenced in Roger Courson Murder

(GALLATIN)

The final defendant involved in the death of a rural Edgewood man in 2021 was sentenced Friday on counts of residential burglary and aggravated battery.

29-year-old Christopher Gallatin of Centralia was sentenced by Judge Josh Morrison for his role in the death of 80-year-old Roger Courson at his home near Edgewood in rural Clay County. Morrison sentenced Gallatin to 20 years in prison for residential burglary and to five years in prison for aggravated battery. The sentences will run consecutively and Gallatin must serve at least 50% of the sentences.

Gallatin was charged with Walter West of Edgewood and Jamie Charlton of Salem in the September 2021 incident that has been termed by authorities as a botched burglary.

West pled guilty to the murder in February of 2023 and was sentenced to 30 years in prison, plus received another five year sentence for an attempted jailbreak while in custody.

Charlton pleaded guilty to residential burglary in May of 2023 for his role in the incident and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.