Guest guest Posted May 1, 2003 Report Share Posted May 1, 2003 Those sentences seem so very short for such a horrible crime. I hope they get raped in prison. > Last defendants plead guilty > > By Graff > Marietta Daily Journal Staff Writer > > MARIETTA - The four remaining defendants accused of raping a mentally challenged 13-year-old girl pleaded guilty Wednesday, bringing to a close what was slated to be one of the largest gang rape trials in the country. > All 18 men sentenced in the case were given a combined total of nearly 150 years in prison and 150 years on probation. > Only two of the original defendants - Keland Ware and Carelius son - walked out of the courtroom as free men on Wednesday, striking a deal with prosecutors for credit on time served - about 2½ years. > The only evidence that existed against the two men were conflicting eyewitness accounts that they were present in the apartment the night of the rape. > In an interview following the close of court proceedings on Wednesday, Cobb County District Attorney Pat Head said this was the best possible ending for this worst-case scenario. > " I don't think there are ever winners in a criminal case, " he said. " That's good that we didn't have to go forward with the trial. " > But, he said, the resolution of the case does not take away the devastation this event has caused the families of the defendants and of the victim. > The incident occurred between 4 p.m. Oct. 13 and 2 a.m. Oct. 14, when four men at the Forest Creek apartment complex off Favor Road next to Osborne High School lured the girl - who had the mental capacity of a 7-year-old - into an apartment and videotaped themselves having sex with her. > The men left to attend a high school football game, but returned later with another group of men and continued to have sex with the victim in an abandoned apartment in the same complex. > " I just don't see anybody being a winner, " Head said. " I see it as a positive resolution to a very bad event. " > In addition to Ware and son, sentenced in court on Wednesday were 28-year-old ph Jimmy Jr., who will serve eight years in prison and 12 on probation for statutory rape, and 27-year-old Wyatt, who will serve nine years behind bars and 11 on probation on charges of child molestation and statutory rape. > During sentencing, Chief Judge Staley offered final words of wisdom and comfort to the remaining defendants and their families. > During Wyatt's sentencing, his mother stood behind him in the front of the courtroom, quietly sobbing. > " Your family will get through this, " Judge Staley said. > She also agreed with defense attorney Connie McManus who, speaking on behalf of Wyatt, said one of the most appalling aspects of the crime what that nobody there tried to stop it. He was 24 at the time of the 2000 incident. > Judge Staley told Wyatt that recognizing he was wrong for not stopping it was first step toward changing his behavior. > " This isn't how anybody should behave, but no one called the police, nobody said, 'This is wrong, we shouldn't do it,' " she said. > Other defendants who entered pleas on Tuesday included 17-year-old Tyvone , who was 15 at the time of the incident and was sentenced to five years in the state juvenile justice system; 21-year- old Grant, who pleaded guilty to statutory rape and was sentenced to eight years in prison and 12 years on probation; 20-year- old Shimell Nicholson, who pleaded guilty to statutory rape and was sentenced to eight years in prison and 12 on probation; 20-year-old Lyons - one of the four involved in making the videotape - who pleaded guilty to statutory rape and sexual exploitation of a minor and was sentenced to eight years behind bars and 12 on probation and 29-year-old son, who was sentenced to 10 years behind bars and 10 on probation for statutory rape. son was 27 at the time of the offense and was the oldest of the 18 men. > All men receive credit for time served. > mgraff@m... > > > > ~~~ Imagine all the people, living life in peace - Lennon ~~~ > ------------------------- > gina, 31, ny > single mom to - > kailey, 8, autism, hyperlexia, depression, anxiety, OCD, DSI > trevor, 3, multiple developmental delays, no " official " dx yet > parker jade, due 7-25-03 :-D > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 1, 2003 Report Share Posted May 1, 2003 You took the words right out of my mouth " vile " Louisa > > VILE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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