Teen sentenced in Ryan Boles murder. Mom held in contempt, DA says
A teen convicted of murder and armed robbery in the December 2023 death of a Columbus State University graduate in Phenix City was sentenced in a Russell County courtroom Friday.
Jadarius Snipes, 18, was found guilty of murder and armed robbery by a Russell County jury Oct. 23 in connection with the death of 23-year-old Ryan Boles.
Circuit Judge Zachary Collins sentenced Snipes to 45 years and a $25,000 fine for the murder conviction. Snipes also was sentenced to 20 years, to serve concurrently, for the armed robbery conviction and a $5,000 fine. Collins ordered the defendant to receive credit for time served.
What happened before sentencing in Ryan Boles murder trial
One of Snipes’ defense attorneys, Justus Armstrong, asked the judge before sentencing to take the defendant’s age into consideration. Armstrong said, based on the factual background given during the trial, the defendant wasn’t the shooter in the case.
Snipes stood and addressed the court. He told the Boles family he is sorry and apologized for his actions.
Snipes’ mother, Mary Herbert, left the courtroom. Collins ordered deputies to bring her back into the courtroom and paused the hearing until the mother returned.
Deputies brought Herbert back into the courtroom in handcuffs. She was held but doesn’t face any jail time, according to Russell County District Attorney Rick Chancey.
Boles’ father, John, asked the judge to sentence the defendant to the maximum penalty. He called the attack on his son “unprovoked” and “cold-blooded” and said rehabilitation is “a myth.”
“Don’t let this happen to another family,” Boles said.
District attorney responds
Chancey said he was satisfied with the sentencing. He said the DA’s office had offered Snipes a plea deal of 30 years, which Snipes didn’t accept.
Regarding Snipes’ mother being held in contempt, Chancey said it’s a free country and the case is a public proceeding that can be talked about in the public.
“When she left court that day of the verdict,” Chancey said, “instead of sitting there with her son, for the rest of that proceeding, as soon as the verdict was announced, she walked straight out, got up, left the court, while court’s still going on, and went straight out, and apparently livestreamed on Facebook her opinion as to what her son didn’t do wrong, that there was no evidence that her son did anything, which just flew in the face of the whole week of trial.”
Chancey said he was not surprised the judge held the mother in contempt.
He said he cannot speak to the status of the case involving the minor charged in the case.
Defense attorney speaks
Armstrong said the Boles family has his condolences about the loss of their son.
“It was a senseless killing,” Armstrong said. “This community, they lost a bright, young individual who definitely was going to make a name for himself here.”
Armstrong said the defense does not agree with the jury’s verdict but respects it. Snipes was represented by Justus and Jeremy Armstrong, but they won’t be part of the appeal process, according to Justus Armstrong.
“We want a fresh new set of eyes looking at this,” Justus Armstrong said. He confirmed Snipes has 42 days to file any appeals in the case.
This story was originally published November 21, 2025 at 2:04 PM.