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Victim's father discusses Spotsylvania beating case
Date published: 9/17/2009
By PAMELA GOULD The prosecutor may not be able to prove it. The plea deals may not reflect it. But Bryan Tarter has no doubt the brutal Jan. 11 attack on his son and his son's best friend was premeditated. His belief, he said, comes from three key things, each of which is captured on a cell-phone video The Free Lance-Star obtained this week and has posted online. Tarter noted the video is trained on his son, he noted the big crowd at the scene, and he pointed out that one of the defendants "signals" a second one who, moments later, sucker-punches his son. Tarter's then-18-year-old son and his son's then-19-year-old friend were attacked by nine other teens after they arrived at a field in the Stoneybrooke subdivision in Spotsylvania County for what they expected to be a Sunday afternoon pickup football game. Tarter's son was knocked out by the sucker-punch, then kicked and stomped on. He suffered multiple fractures to his jaw. The friend suffered head trauma after being punched, kicked and stomped on. As of this week, all nine teens--including at least four who were then Courtland High School athletes--have accepted plea deals for their roles. Five have been sentenced; the other four are scheduled to be sentenced by the end of October. None of the defendants who have testified said the attack was planned, and the assistant commonwealth's attorney prosecuting the case said he cannot prove it. The newspaper is not naming the victims and has blurred their faces in the video posted online. THE VIDEO The video supports Tart-er's points. The person recording on his cell phone focuses on Tarter's son. The video shows defendant De'onte Jones verbally confronting him. The person recording and a second male talk as they record. One complains when defendant Matthew Shepherd walks in front of him and blocks his view. He says: "Come on, Matt move." Then they discuss how long the phone can record, and one says it's "all right, as long as I see that jump." Jones makes a motion with his left hand, as if waving someone toward him shortly before defendant John "Jay" Madison comes up behind Tarter's son and blindsides him with a punch to the face.
I went to Courtland High for 3 out of 4 years of high school & I'm not like this. Check what you say before you say it. The majority of the responisbility doesnt rest on the school, or the parents really. They're old enough to know right from wrong & the possible consquences of their actions. It's the own fault for not thinkin it through before they did what they did. My heart goes out to the victims, their families, & the families of the boys who chose to do this. They must be askin what they did wrong.
Postoak, the actions of these punks should not be looked at as a Courtland HS problem. As you most likely know not all of these punks were from Courtland. It is not the schools who should be admonished here. The little criminals and their parents should shoulder all of the responsibility here.
These kids are worthless. If after 10-12 years in our public schools and their own parents raising them (in their own image?) I say I pray for our society, This video was overwhelming evidence to me that something was premeditated. God help us.
That there were plea deals all around? Spotsy is the "Plea Deal Capital" of Virginia. The CA's office isn't capable of actually trying a case.
How's that for irony. This lot is enough to induce vomit.
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