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.)

[Lazamataz]

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

As a recovering addict myself, I find that comment utterly vulgar.

My parents had NOTHING to do with the bad decisions I have made.

[FormerLib]

Anyone’s kid can make some stupid choices, but there’s always a chance to turn him back around while he’s still alive.

This has got to be hell for the parents.

[microgood]

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

Actually, the crime is due to the fact that drugs are illegal. Please read a bit about Prohibition I to understand more about Prohibition II. Everything now occurring in the drug war occurred during Prohibition I including a massive increase in criminal activity.

[Badeye]

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

Depends on the drug and circumstances.

Millions of crimes will be committed this year by drug addicts.

You aren’t actually going to try to tell me this kid was ‘happy’ and ‘productive’ and a ‘family man’ now are you?

[Lazamataz]

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

Debatable.

Go easy. We do recover.

[Badeye]

Actually, the crime is due to the fact that drugs are illegal. Please read a bit about Prohibition I to understand more about Prohibition II. Everything now occurring in the drug war occurred during Prohibition I including a massive increase in criminal activity.

I’m very familiar with what you are citing, and in fact I’m for legalization, or at least decriminalization of some ‘drugs’ like marijuana.

But this kid wasn’t in that neighborhood looking for a quarter ounce of grass, as I suspect you probably know.

[lilylangtree]

Drugs! The bane of humanity’s existence.

[Dr.Syn]

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

I am by NO means going light on the fact that the murdered kid was not a kid but also a father who was buying drugs. Or the fact that his father was redirecting some of his guilt that his son was a druggie at the murderer.

BUT...with the way the government has stuck its nose into the upbringing of this country's youth, sometimes there is little a parent can do.

Sometimes a bad apple is born and when one or both parents try to come down hard on that kid, the kid can go to the state and get the parents in trouble.

If the government would back off and let parents give deserving brats a good whack things might be easier for the parents and better for the kids.

IMHO

[Badeye]

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

Debatable.
Go easy. We do recover.

Hey laz, long time no post. hell, today seems like LP old home week round here....(chuckle)

Yep, some do in fact ‘recover’.

Others don’t, and the damage they inflict is stunning, across the board, as you know.

I’m in a bad frame of mind on this topic, see my first post on the thread. Its got me a bit bummed. Nothing I can do, not my kid (thank God) but its terrible watching this take the toll on my friends, who simply deserve much better.

[Scotsman will be Free]

“Kid”? He was 28. How long are you going to hold the parents responsible for his actions?

[Jim Noble]

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

Unless your kids are all grown, take a deep breath and pray.

Pray hard.

There but for the grace of God, go I.

[hophead]

“You aren’t actually going to try to tell me this kid was ‘happy’ and ‘productive’ and a ‘family man’ now are you?”

You blanketed all drug users with a very broad brush.
Like I said, millions ARE productive active members of society.

But from what my co worker tells me, yes he was doing well and happy. .

[nw_arizona_granny]

Ping.

[A_Tradition_Continues]

From the article... "sentenced to life in prison, without parole eligibility until after 33 years. "

He'll serve at least 33 year.

[Badeye]

You blanketed all drug users with a very broad brush.

Uh huh...okay, put down the bong, and reread my post. I clearly differentiated, my foggy minded friend....(chuckle)

[gridlock]

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.

I would say he made a very eloquent statement.

I can't fault the father, except in as much as he did not succeed.

[Fido969]

Courts are jokes. Pompous judges, overpaid lawyers, all keeping the sham going at the public expense.

[gridlock]

I wonder if “sentenced to life in prison, without parole eligibility until after 33 years” really means 33 years. The legal system sometimes makes no sense at all.

[Anonymous Rex]

Not yet......

[Stoat]

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.

I would say he made a very eloquent statement.

Agreed.  In a similar circumstance, I'm sure that I would want to do the same as this father.

I can't fault the father, except in as much as he did not succeed.

He certainly tried, with everything at his disposal:

United Press International - NewsTrack - Top News - Man chokes son's killer in court

"Several dozen police were needed to quell the chaos in an Ohio courtroom after a man began choking his son’s killer, it was reported Tuesday. "

"I truly believe if you are ever set free to live in society, there will be another victim, another family, that is shattered," Ginger Sweat, the victim's mother, told Clifford minutes before her husband jumped on him."

Herald Star Online

"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."

"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."

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.

I would say he made a very eloquent statement.

Agreed.  In a similar circumstance, I'm sure that I would want to do the same as this father.

I can't fault the father, except in as much as he did not succeed.