By Paige Gurgainers

Greg Lawson of Ringgold finally had his day in court Thursday, July 18, after District Judge Rick Warren denied a motion for a new trial the previous Monday. Lawson has now been sentenced to 45 years in prison without the possibility of parole for attempted second-degree murder. 

Lawson spent more than 30 years on the run facing charges of second-degree murder following an altercation that turned violent outside of a Ringgold grocery store in 1990. The victim, Seth Garlington, suffered four gunshot wounds, including one to the hand and two other superficial wounds. He was transported to Schumpert Medical Center’s intensive-care unit and later released. 

Lawson was booked on a charge of attempted second-degree murder, but was soon released on a bond of $50,000. He was later indicted on 12 charges in 1990 by a Bienville Parish Grand Jury, including aggravated assault, aggravated criminal damage, attempted second-degree murder, criminal damage to motor vehicles, attempted manslaughter, battery with a dangerous weapon, illegal use of a firearm and disturbing the peace. Lawson pleaded innocent and was released on a bond of $175,000. 

The trial was moved to Claiborne District Court in Homer due to pretrial publicity in Bienville Parish.

It only took the 12-person jury half an hour to find Greg Max Lawson guilty, but Lawson was nowhere to be found. According to reports, while the jury was deliberating, Lawson who was free on bond simply walked out of the courtroom.

In September 2023 a tip received by the FBI – New Orleans division eventually led to the arrest of Lawson in Mexico. Deputies with the Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office traveled to Houston, Texas to pick him up and book him into the Claiborne Parish Detention Center.

Garlington, the victim, was present at Thursday’s hearing. He provided a written statement but chose not to read it himself. In this statement he mentioned that he did forgive Lawson. 

Lawson also made a statement, as well as his brother, both urging for leniency. 

The judge only considered the charge of second-degree murder while sentencing and made the decision not to include Lawson’s 3 decades as a wanted fugitive as a factor. 

At this time Lawson will remain at the Claiborne Parish Detention Center and will be transferred at a later date.