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
Email: ebiltz@freelancestar.com