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Fifth defendant pleads in beating
Date published: 6/18/2009
BY ELLEN BILTZ
A Spotsylvania County prosecutor said yesterday that charges were reduced against defendants in a high-profile beating case with the agreement of the two victims. Prosecutor Brian Boyle explained the reasons for the lesser charges after the fifth defendant--John Mad-ison, 18--signed a plea agreement that reduces one count of malicious wounding by mob to unlawful wounding and drops one completely. It also allows for the judge to consider reducing the unlawful wounding to a misdemeanor. The plea deals were offered to nine high school students charged in the beatings of two teens. Boyle said after court that the commonwealth's attorney's office had agreed to plea agreements that included lesser charges after talking with the two victims. "Our victims wanted a felony conviction, but assented to a reduction to unlawful wounding because they understand these are young defendants. They are defendants with almost no criminal record," he said. "Everybody was sort of understanding of that." Several of the nine teens charged in January are known in the county for their athletic and academic excellence. Some are stars on the football and track teams with opportunities to start college in the fall. Boyle said while that was taken into account, he still feels what they did was a felony, and he plans to argue that when the cases go before a visiting judge in August and September for sentencing. According to the plea agreements, the judge will have the option of either finding the defendants guilty of the unlawful wounding charge or reducing that charge to misdemeanor assault and battery. Boyle said while he plans to ask for a felony conviction, he understands defense attorneys have arguments to make for the lesser charge. Eight of the nine defendants--Madison; Brock Bullock, 18; Kyle A. Brown, 18; Tyrik Jamal Denson, 18; De'onte C. Jones, 18; Jonathan R. Longtin, 19; Tajh H. Pendleton, 19; and Matthew W. Shepherd, 18--have accepted or are planning to accept the offered plea deal. One other defendant, James Eugene Massey, 18, has said he wants to take his case to a jury in October. Boyle also said he is not favoring the defendants because one of their mothers works in the Spotsylvania court system. Boyle said he has been careful to make sure each defendant is treated equally and fairly throughout the process. "We're trying to be as transparent as we can be," he said. The next set of defendants is scheduled to sign plea agreements next Wednesday. Sentencing hearings are set for Aug. 13 and Sept. 24 for those who have pleaded guilty. At their arraignments, some defense attorneys said they wanted their clients to get early sentencing dates so they could be finished with the court system before they are scheduled to start school. Massey's jury trial is scheduled for Oct. 22. Ellen Biltz: 540/374-5424
The lawyers want to get an earfly sentencing date for these
kids because they want it all over with before they start
school in the fall? If these "athletes" are going to school on
a scholarship, it should be cancelled. You do something like
this that seriously injures someone, as far as I'm concerned,
throw the book at them and stop making excuses just
because they're "athletes". If you do the crime, then do the
time--it's cause and effect; good choice, bad choice.
What if they were 4 years older and all had just graduated college? Should they also then be given a little lovey slap on the wrist so they wont be stigmatized from society at that point in life? What if they were 10 years older? 15 years? They are old enough to know right from wrong and old enough to be held responsible for there actions and if not ... then nail there parents and make them do the time since they should have raised there children to know right from wrong.
Well, you're wrong. They simply are. I have a feeling this is just the beginning of MANY years of experience with the justice and penal system these "men" are getting. Sadly, statistics aren't on their side, and it doesn't appear as if any of them want to do anything any different in their lives. So again, THUGS, the lot of them.
The boys who ganged up on the 2 victims should be charged with the original charges and let the judge decide whether he wants to drop it to the lesser felony charge presented by the CA in the plea deal or drop it down to the misdemeanor charge as well. The ones who stood around watching and cheering it on should be charged as well. It is sad that our community has come to this
They should go back and charge all those cowards, that stood around and watched and cheered and when the time came, did not come forward. Those too should be punished!!! But when the time came, enjoyed there freedom.
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