County courtroom erupts (Murder victim's father dives across table, attempts to strangle perp)

Herald Star ^ | August 7, 2007 | Mark Law

[Stoat]

 

County courtroom erupts

By MARK LAW, Staff writer

 

Mark Law

COURTROOM CHAOS – The father of a Weirton man shot in the back of the head during a July 29, 2006, robbery on South Court Alley attacked the defendant during a sentencing hearing in Jefferson County Common Pleas Court on Monday. Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla, left, is pulling Mike Sweat, the father, off Antonio Clifford, the defendant. Sheriff’s Deputy Troy Devore, right, is pulling on Clifford. Defense attorney Francesca Carinci is to the right, while defense attorney Peter Olivito, left, walks away. Mike Sweat’s wife, in the white blouse, is shown running toward the defense table.

STEUBENVILLE — The father of a murdered Weirton man who attacked his son’s killer in a Jefferson County courtroom was released by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department about 45 minutes after being dragged out of the courtroom in restraints on Monday.

Antonio Clifford, 20, of Cincinnati pleaded guilty before Common Pleas Judge Joseph Bruzzese Jr. to single counts of aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and tampering with evidence and was sentenced to life in prison, without parole eligibility until after 33 years.

Joshua Ryan Sweat, 28, of 123 Sherwood Road, Weirton, came to Steubenville on July 29, 2006, looking to buy drugs, county Assistant Prosecutor Jane Keenan said. He was taken behind a bar, about a block from the Steubenville Police Department, and met by several men who came from inside the bar, Keenan said. The men decided to rob Sweat, but he resisted.

Police said Sweat was shot once in the back of the head. He was taken to Trinity Medical Center West and then transported to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where he died about 11 hours later.

Two other codefendants have already pleaded guilty in the case.

Keenan told the judge the prosecutor’s office was removing a death penalty specification as part of the plea agreement. Jury selection in Clifford’s death penalty murder trial was scheduled to begin on Wednesday.

Sweat’s family members were in the process of giving victim impact statements to the court when Mike Sweat, who was walking to the witness stand, suddenly turned and charged toward Clifford. Mike Sweat jumped onto the defendant, while county Sheriff Fred Abdalla grabbed the father.

Families of the victim and defendant were screaming and crying and began to argue amongst themselves.

Abdalla yelled for the courtroom to be cleared while deputies and responding Steubenville police officers worked to get the father on the ground and in restraints.

The father was crying and screaming the whole time, even shouting obscenities at Clifford.

“There was frustration over his son’s murder. As a father, I can understand that,” Abdalla said. “This happens in courtrooms across America everyday.”

Abdalla said Mike Sweat calmed down after a time at the county sheriff’s department. Mike Sweat kept crying and saying he had to tell his grandkids that their father was dead, Abdalla said.

“My heart broke for the guy,” the sheriff said.

Abdalla said Mike Sweat did attempt to grab the sheriff’s gun that was in a holster on Abdalla’s side. The sheriff said he held Mike Sweat’s hand until other deputies could assist in restraining the father.

“All we wanted to do was restrain him,” the sheriff said.

Sweat’s sister, Erica Lallone, and Sweat’s mother, Ginger Sweat, had finished their victim impact statements prior to Mike Sweat attacking Clifford.

“You are a murderer, plain and simple,” the victim’s mother told Clifford.

Both the sister and mother said the robbers had other options besides shooting Sweat in the back of the head.

“I don’t know why he was shot execution style,” the mother said. “It was not an accidental shooting. You put the gun to the back of his head and pulled the trigger, all for a couple hundred dollars.”

The sister told Clifford that she no longer has her big brother. She said Joshua Sweat was a two-time national motocross champion. She showed Clifford pictures of Joshua Sweat’s sons.

“I can’t tell you how much this hurts. I will never forgive you for murdering by brother, Josh. I can’t wait for the day you are in hell for eternity.”

Keenan, after the courtroom disruption, read Mike Sweat’s victim impact statement.

“You are the one who sentenced Joshua to death and his family to a life of misery. Therefore, I expect nothing less for you.”

Byron T. Johnson, 20, of 423 Highland Ave. pleaded guilty in December to single counts of murder, complicity to aggravated robbery and tampering with evidence and was sentenced to 18 years to life in prison.

Patrick Thurman, 20, of 341 S. Seventh St. pleaded guilty in July to complicity to aggravated robbery and tampering with evidence. He is still awaiting sentencing.

Keenan said the fact that Clifford will spend the rest of his life in prison is justice in the case.

“The family was right. He (Clifford) put a gun to the back of their son’s head and killed him for no reason. The victim was unarmed and did nothing to provoke the attack. (Clifford) is a cold-blooded killer who got what he deserved.”

Defense attorney Francesca Carinci said Clifford faced the death penalty and her job was to save his life.

“He has accepted responsibility for what he did. It was a just result in light of the circumstances,” Carinci said.



(Law can be contacted at mlaw@heraldstaronline.com.)

[Stoat]

Although the victim was no angel, one can easily understand the rage of the father. Hopefully the perps will all burn in Hell, and soon.

[Anonymous Rex]

The perp admitted to killing the guys son in a plea deal. Turn him over to the family of the kid he murdered and be done with it.

[Badeye]

The father should have directed that rage at his live son, who went where he shouldn’t have, to buy what he shouldn’t have.

I’m not excusing the punks that did this. I’m surprised they left off the death penalty specification.

Gotta a very good friend who’s son is in rehab for the fifth (5th) time. His mother is the enabler, and I suspect his story will eventually end similiarly.

[PAR35]

Mike Sweat kept crying and saying he had to tell his grandkids that their father was dead, Abdalla said.

Maybe he should also tell them not to go and try to buy drugs in back alleys.

[TonyInOhio]

Amen.

[George from New England]

The murdered kid was buying drugs. How much of a father was this guy?

[theDentist]

I’d expect they already learned that lesson the hard way. I’d say the father’s statement (diving across a desk to strangle the sumbich) had the greatest impact.

[hophead]

The family who lost it in court are the in-laws of my co-worker. They are good people whose son took a wrong turn. Nobody should be killed by another just because you are an addict.
33 year sentence, of which he will be out in less than 15.
The judge basically told these people that their son was only worth 15 years of this perps life. I would have gone off on him too.

[cherry]

even drug users have the right to live.....

God bless this father and I hope more fathers become immensely active in their kids lives, showing what the real reason for their testosterone ....to protect women and children.....

[Badeye]

even drug users have the right to live.....

Debatable. Especially when you realize just how much crime, of all types, are traced back to them.

[ChocChipCookie]

Do you hold yourself responsible for everything your children do? Trust me, young people caught up in drug addiction come from every walk of life and sometimes even from loving and supportive homes. Assuming this man was a poor father based on the sole fact that his son was buying drugs is way too judgmental.

[hophead]

“How much of a father was this guy?”

I bet you don’t have kids!

[hophead]

“How much of a father was this guy?”

Have you EVER known a family who had a kid that did drugs? Do you lay the cloak of “bad parent” on everyone whose kids get in trouble? There are things parents do not have control of, especially adult children.

[JamesA]

Take the punk out and hang him and let his body swing till it rots and decays and falls to the ground. Feed the ants and other creepy crawlers with whats left.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Wow. Sometimes the lack of compassion here stinks. My prayers for this father and his family.

[Stoat]

The family who lost it in court are the in-laws of my co-worker. They are good people whose son took a wrong turn.

I'm so very sorry....what an absolutely awful thing.....

May God Bless them and may they one day find Peace amid their suffering and pain.

 

 

[Vinnie]

I have given this situation some thought and if I’m ever in the gallery, watching the murderer of my relative sitting before me I have a solution.
He/she won’t live to serve the sentence.

[hophead]

“Debatable. Especially when you realize just how much crime, of all types, are traced back to them.”

I would bet you work with people who do drugs and ARE NOT responsible for “crime of all types”. That statement is just stupid!

There are millions of happy, productive and family people who do drugs responsibly and without incident.