Laurel man takes plea, will testify in murder trials

A Laurel man has pleaded guilty to drug-dealing charges and has agreed to testify against co-defendants charged with a double murder and home invasion near Millsboro.

Jackson Vanvorst, 25, pleaded guilty to five counts of drug dealing Dec. 15 in Delaware Superior Court in Georgetown. Appearing before Judge T. Henley Graves, Vanvorst also agreed that he would testify in the trials of Carlton Gibbs, Damon Bethea, Steven Kellum, Richard Robinson, Rachel Rentoul, Rhamir Waples, Shamir Stratton and Jacquelin Heverin, all of whom have been implicated in the January 2014 murders of Cletis Nelson and William Hopkins.

Delaware State Police arrested Vanvorst in July as part of the four-month operation, “In The House,” which brought down a massive crime ring in Kent and Sussex counties. Vanvorst originally faced 55 charges including possession and delivery of cocaine, conspiracy, criminal solicitation and weapons charges.

A barrel-chested man with a shaved head, beard and tattoo sleeve on his left arm, the soft-spoken Vanvorst faces up to 47 years in prison. As part of his plea, Vanvorst’s bail was changed to $100,000 unsecured; Graves warned Vanvorst not to use drugs or involve himself in any criminal activity. He told Vanvorst to get a job and stay out of trouble.

Vanvorst’s attorney, Vincent Vickers, would not comment on why Vanvorst decided to plead guilty and testify against his co-defendants.

Vanvorst’s sentencing was deferred until Monday, Aug. 1 to ensure he testifies against the murder suspects – Kellum, Gibbs, Robinson, Bethea, Waples and Stratton – all of whom have pleaded not guilty. The first scheduled murder trial is Robinson on Monday, May 9.