BEATINGS BRING JAIL
First five teen defendants in Spotsylvania beating case are sentenced
Date published: 8/14/2009
By PAMELA GOULD
Four members of Courtland High School's class of 2009 and one rising senior were jailed yesterday for their roles in a January beating (view related stories) that left two teens hospitalized.
The five were ordered to serve terms ranging from one month to 11/2 years for the Spotsylvania County incident, which was recorded by a bystander on his cell phone.
Also yesterday, visiting Judge J. Howe Brown Jr. of Fairfax accepted a plea deal for a sixth teen in Spotsylvania Circuit Court.
James E. Massey Jr., 18, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful wounding yesterday. He was the eighth of nine teens charged in the case to enter a guilty plea under an agreement with prosecutors. He is scheduled for sentencing Oct. 22.
The ninth teen is scheduled to plead on Aug. 21 and to be sentenced along with the remaining two teens on Sept. 24.
The beatings occurred shortly after a pickup football game in a Spotsylvania neighborhood on a Sunday afternoon.
Yesterday, Assistant Com-monwealth's Attorney Brian Boyle played a video recording of the incident before Brown sentenced the teens.
Before the day's hearings concluded, those in the courtroom viewed the attack several times. They saw a sucker punch to the first victim that instantly sent him to the ground unconscious. They then saw that when a friend tried to come to his aid, he was punched, fell to the ground and was hit and kicked by several youths.
The first victim suffered a broken jaw and testified that it was wired shut for eight weeks.
Doctors were concerned about a brain injury to the second victim, Boyle said.
Both victims testified that they could not recall the details of the incident because of their injuries.
Both indicated they are haunted by the attack.
Each of the nine teens arrested after the attack was originally charged with two counts of malicious wounding by mob.
Commonwealth's Attorney William Neely instead offered the teens identical plea deals in which they could plead guilty to one count of the lesser felony charge of unlawful wounding and have the second charge dropped.
Malicious wounding by mob carries a possible 20-year term; unlawful wounding carries up to five years.
| JOHN "JAY" MADISON
CONVICTION: Unlawful wounding, felony
SENTENCE: Serve 1 years of a five-year sentence. Three years probation. Pay one-ninth of medical expenses.
PERSONAL: Scheduled to start at Lackawanna College yesterday, first in his family to go to college. Voluntarily reported to jail after graduation. Described as trustworthy, polite, team leader.
SPORTS: Football
ROLE IN BEATINGS: Came at the first victim with a fist raised like a quarterback's wind-up and punched him in the face without warning, knocking him unconscious. Punched second victim while he was on the ground. Admitted there was a plan to confront the first victim.
FOOTBALL COACH J.C. HALL: "I think Jay is very remorseful for what he did. He got caught up in a bad choice, and he's paid his dues."
JUDGE BROWN: "One of the purposes of sentencing is deterrence. At least Courtland High School is going to know what happened today. Letting him walk would send the wrong message."
MADISON: "I took matters into my own hands when I could have taken it to the cops."
DE'ONTE C. JONES
CONVICTION: Unlawful wounding, felony
SENTENCE: Serve one year of a five-year sentence. Three years probation. Pay one-ninth of medical expenses.
PERSONAL: Seven colleges expressed interest in him for sports and academics. Described as a role model. Jones said his little brother claimed the first victim beat him up. The brother struggles academically, as does a neighborhood boy called Buddha. The first victim had a run-in with Buddha but had resolved it with him and his family before the beatings.
SPORTS: Football, track
ROLE IN BEATINGS: Kicked the first victim twice while he was unconscious and on the ground. Kicked or stomped the second victim while he was on the ground.
FOOTBALL COACH J.C. HALL: "There were talks of a scholarship offer at James Madison University until this incident."
DEFENSE ATTORNEY VINCENT ROBERTSON: "There is no evidence my client got it started. He was standing there talking it out. This young man [pointing to the first victim] is a neighborhood bully, a menace."
JONES: "I just got into it. I just lost it."
TAJH H. PENDLETON
CONVICTION: Unlawful wounding, felony
SENTENCE: Serve six months of a three-year sentence. Complete anger management course. Three years probation. Pay one-ninth of medical expenses.
PERSONAL: Courtland class of 2009. Mother died of a cancer a few years ago. Father works at county's career and technical center. No discipline problems at school. Described as mild-mannered, polite and courteous.
SPORTS: Football player, former wrestler
ROLE IN BEATINGS: Punched the second victim with both fists and stomped on him while he was on the ground.
PROSECUTOR BOYLE: "This is as cold-blooded as it gets--attacking the one guy who is simply defending his friend."
JUDGE BROWN: "Frankly, it is better if he did know [there was a planned attack]. If he didn't know, what kind of person jumps on a man who is no kind of threat? What kind of man does that?"
PENDLETON: "I just want to apologize to the victims' family and them."
TYRIK J. DENSON
CONVICTION: Unlawful wounding, felony
SENTENCE: Serve six months of a three-year sentence. Three years probation. Pay one-ninth of medical expenses.
PERSONAL: Described by parents as a follower. Didn't pursue sports in high school to concentrate on studies, with plans for college. Got A's and B's in school. Looked up to Brock Bullock.
SPORTS: None in school
ROLE IN BEATING: Pulled Brock away from the second victim, then stepped toward the victim, kicked and punched him while he was on the ground.
FATHER TIMOTHY DENSON: "I think he was more coming to the defense of Brock."
DEFENSE ATTORNEY VERNON KEEVE: "He's not a jock. He wants to go to college."
JUDGE BROWN: "This was a vicious attack. He had to move Brock to get [to the second victim]. There was no fight at that point."
DENSON: Told both victims he was sorry.
BROCK L. BULLOCK
CONVICTION: Assault and battery, misdemeanor
SENTENCE: Serve one month of a one-year sentence. One year probation. Pay one-ninth of medical expenses.
PERSONAL: Father killed in a November car accident. Described as leading by example, trustworthy, hard-working. Is paying for his attorney; earned money to pay restitution to victims.
Rising senior.
SPORTS: Football, baseball
ROLE IN BEATING: Moved toward the second victim and punched him in face after the second victim was struck. The two fell to the ground. He got up and walked away.
FOOTBALL COACH J.C. HALL: "Brock is someone I aspire my 8-year-old and 4-year-old to be. Prior to this incident he was a leader; since it, he's a remorseful leader."
PROSECUTOR BRIAN BOYLE: He was the only one who didn't "take a cheap shot" and "attack someone helpless" but did start the attack on the second victim.
JUDGE BROWN: "They are all sterling characters. The difference is everybody else hit or stomped or kicked somebody who was already on the ground."
BULLOCK: "I just feel like I let everyone down." |
| DE'ONTE C. JONES
CONVICTION: Unlawful wounding, felony
SENTENCE: Serve 1 year of 5-year sentence. 3 years probation. Pay 1/9 of medical expenses.
PERSONAL: Seven colleges expressed interest in him for sports and academics. Described as role model. Jones said his little brother claimed Victim 1 beat him up. The brother struggles academically as does a neighborhood boy called "Buddha." Victim 1 had a run-in with Buddha but had resolved it with him and his family prior to the beatings.
SPORTS: Football, track
ROLE IN BEATINGS: Kicked Victim 1 twice while unconscious and on the ground. Kicked or stomped second victim while on the ground.
FOOTBALL COACH J.C. HALL: "There were talks of a scholarship offer at James Madison University until this incident."
DEFENSE ATTORNEY VINCENT ROBERTSON: "There is no evidence my client got it started. He was standing there talking it out. This young man (pointing to Victim 1) is a neighborhood bully, a menace."
JONES: "It was just the spur of a momentum. I just got into it. I just lost it." |
| TAJH H. PENDLETON, 18
CONVICTION: Unlawful wounding, felony
SENTENCE: Serve 6 months of 3-year sentence. Complete anger management course. 3 years probation. Pay 1/9 of the medical expenses.
PERSONAL: Courtland class of 2009. Mother died of a cancer a few years ago. Father works at county's career and technical center. No discipline problems at school. Described as mild-mannered, very polite, very courteous.
SPORTS: Football player, former wrestler
ROLE IN BEATINGS: Punched the second victim with both fists and stomped on him while he was on the ground.
PROSECUTOR BOYLE: "This is as cold-blooded as it gets--attacking the one guy who is simply defending his friend."
JUDGE BROWN: "Frankly, it is better if he did know [there was a planned attack]. If he didn't know, what kind of person jumps on a man who is no kind of threat ? What kind of man does that?"
PENDLETON: "I just want to apologize to the victims' family and them. I'm sorry for what I did." |
| TYRIK J. DENSON
CONVICTION: unlawful wounding, felony
SENTENCE: Serve 6 months of 3-year sentence. 3 years probation. Pay 1/9 of medical payments.
PERSONAL: Described by parents as a follower. Didn't pursue sports in high school to concentrate on studies to go to college. Got As and Bs in school. Looked up to Brock Bullock.
SPORTS: None in school
ROLE IN BEATING: He pulls Brock away from Victim 2 and then steps toward the victim and kicks and punches him while he's on the ground surrounded by others.
FATHER TIMOTHY DENSON: "I think he was more coming to the defense of Brock."
DEFENSE ATTORNEY VERNON KEEVE: "He's not a jock. He wants to college. That's what he wants to be."
JUDGE BROWN: "This was a vicious attack. He had to move Brock to get [Victim 2]. There was no fight at that point."
DENSON: Told both victims he was sorry.
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| BROCK L. BULLOCK
CONVICTION: Assault and battery, misdemeanor
SENTENCE: Serve 1 month of 1-year sentence. 1 year probation. Pay 1/9 of medical expenses.
PERSONAL: Father killed in November car accident. Described as leading by example, trustworthy, hard-working. Is paying for his attorney, earned money to pay restitution to victims.
Rising senior.
SPORTS: Football, baseball
ROLE IN BEATING: Moved toward Victim 2 and punched him in face after Victim 1 was struck. The two fell to the ground. He got up and walked away.
FOOTBALL COACH J.C. HALL: "Brock is someone I aspire my 8-year-old and 4-year-old to be. Prior to this incident he was a leader; since it, he's a remorseful leader."
PROSECUTOR BRIAN BOYLE: He was the only one who didn't "take a cheap shot" and "attack someone helpless" but did start the attack on Victim 2.
JUDGE BROWN: "They are all sterling characters. The difference is everybody else hit or stomped or kicked somebody who was already on the ground."
BULLOCK: "I just feel like I let everyone down. You gotta bring the old person back out." |
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Date published: 8/14/2009
Most recent reader comments:
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response to "beatings bring jail"
(posted by
bmk4055
, Nov. 11, 2009 4:25 pm)
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 0 likes
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um, if you'd actually watch the movie.. you would see that you cant even visibly see Brock hit the boy, unlike everyone else. THATS why he got a month, not because his mother works at the courthouse. Get your facts straight before you accuse, okay thanks.
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Hit 'em where it hurts...
(posted by
HonorFirst
, Oct. 16, 2009 1:16 pm)
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0 likes
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I hope the victims sue these thugs in civil court and garnish their future wages. They should be reminded of the consequences of their poor judgment every time they draw a paycheck!
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BEATINGS BRING JAIL
(posted by
southbound
, Sep. 7, 2009 12:44 pm)
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0 likes
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Brock started the attack on the 2nd victom but received a misdemeanor and has to serve less than one month in jail. I'm sure it's because his mother works at the courthouse and I'm sure the "judge from another jurisdiction was thoroughly briefed." What a joke! Brock will miss few, if any, days in school, continue to represent Courtland by playing sports and still be eligible for athletic scholarships. That wasn't justice. That was the judge looking out for someone who had connections.
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"COACH?" ... really?
(posted by
bmk4055
, Aug. 21, 2009 12:48 am)
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0 likes
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first of all you DO NOT know brock bullock, because if you did you would want your kids to be like him too. Second of all, until you get to know him.. DO NOT say anything about him. Coach Hall is a very respected man, and i'm pretty sure he knows what he's talking about. Brock was just at the wrong place, & made a bad decision. ANYONE can make a bad decision. He hit the guy one time and walked away.. he didnt kick them like the rest of them. So keep your mouth shut unless you know something about those boys
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Constitution means nothing to Spotsy School Board
(posted by
bseltzer273
, Aug. 19, 2009 5:25 pm)
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0 likes
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Apparently, innocent until proven guilty does not apply to Spotsylvania County Schools students. To prevent someone from partaking in extra curricular activities because they have been accused or charged of a crime WITHOUT being found guilty first is unconstitutional. Perhaps school board members need to visit a government classroom to learn about the law. They have set themselves up to be sued (at taxpayer cost) in the future. Brilliant thinking.
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