The popular "S-Town" podcast character who was charged with stealing items from his deceased friend's property pleaded guilty Monday.
Tyler Goodson, 26, pleaded guilty to three charges in Bibb County Circuit Judge Donald McMillian's courtroom. He was indicted on 20 counts over the summer, and was set to face a trial on the charges this week.
He pleaded guilty Monday to third-degree burglary, third-degree theft of property, and third-degree criminal trespassing. The burglary charge is a felony.
Following his plea, Goodson received a suspended 10-year sentence with five years of probation. A restitution hearing will be held at a later date.
Goodson and the small Bibb County town of Woodstock were featured in the hit podcast "S-Town," from the makers of "Serial" and "This American Life." The podcast was downloaded 40 million times worldwide within a month of its March release.
"Of course we're glad this case is wrapped up and we got a conviction on a case that received such notoriety," District Attorney Michael Jackson said.
"S-Town" focused on a man who lived in Woodstock named John B. McLemore. Podcast host Brian Reed begins the podcast to investigate a murder, but the story changes when McLemore dies instead. McLemore and Goodson were close friends, and are described in the podcast as having a father-son relationship.
Goodson was re-indicted in June on 20 counts: one count of theft of property first degree of theft; four counts of first-degree theft of a motor vehicle; three counts of second-degree possession of forged instrument; one count of second-degree criminal trespassing; two counts of third-degree burglary; one count of second-degree theft of property; and eight counts of second-degree criminal trespass. The charges are related to allegations that Goodson stole property from McLemore's land after McLemore's death in 2015.
Goodson said in the podcast that McLemore promised him, in the event of his death, McLemore's land and custody of his mother Mary Grace; however, McLemore did not leave a will and the estate went to his mother. Mary Grace was eventually placed in the care of McLemore's cousin, and Goodson was warned by law enforcement not to go back onto the property without permission. However, Goodson said he went back to the property numerous times and took several items he claimed were his.
J.D. Terry, one of Goodson's attorneys, has previously defended Goodson as being a good person and McLemore's friend, stating he only took the items because he was promised them. He said Goodson did not do anything with criminal intent.
In the Bessemer division of Jefferson County, Goodson was previously charged with second-degree domestic violence, first-degree burglary, and endangering the welfare of a child. That trial was scheduled to begin last month, but the victim in the case did not want to go forward with prosecution and all charges were dismissed.
Terry did not respond to request for comment before this article was published. This post will be updated.