PHOENIX (AZ Family) — Corey Young walked out of Maricopa County Superior Court Thursday and will be able to spend the holidays at home with his family, and that doesn’t sit well with Jan Kelly, who just watched Young confess to trying to cover up her son’s murder .

“It’s like another punishment,” Kelly said. “Where is Jake on vacation? It’s sad that Jake isn’t here and we won’t be able to see Jake and he won’t have another Christmas or Thanksgiving.”

Young, 45, pleaded guilty to first-degree hindering prosecution for his role in the death of Jake Kelly.

The Phoenix man was severely beaten in August 2023 and left unconscious in the driveway of a north Phoenix home where he lived with Young and Young’s wife, Shanon.

Instead of calling 911, police say the Youngs took Jake into the house, put him in a bathtub, changed his clothes and then left him unconscious.

The couple took him to the hospital the next day, but Jake died a week later.

A friend of the youths, Angel Mullooly, remains in custody, charged with second-degree murder.

Jake’s mom thinks Corey Young is getting off easy.

“It’s never going to be enough to pay for the loss of Jake, but you have to face the reality that it’s just not going to happen,” Kelly said. “I’m not a lawyer, I’m not a judge, I’m not a police officer. I’ll just have to accept what can be done.”

Young is scheduled to be sentenced on January 7. He will receive between two and 8.75 years in prison.

Shannon Young took a plea deal last month and could receive probation.

Criminal defense attorney Aaron Reed said these cases can be complicated, with prosecutors having to consider whether there is enough evidence to go to trial.

“In this particular situation, the family is probably upset about the plea, but a guilty plea to something a crime is better than nothing,” Reed said. “There’s still the potential for jail time and all the things that come with a felony conviction.”

Arizona’s family contacted the Maricopa County District Attorney’s office and was told that Corey Young was not taken into immediate custody because of what was agreed to in the plea agreement.

The young man will be required to wear an ankle monitor, and if he fails to appear at sentencing, he faces additional years in prison.

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