Rawls has a lengthy criminal history, including a previous conviction for first-degree assault, according to court records. After pleading guilty to the charge in 2000, Judge Joseph Johnston sentenced him to 15 years, with 2 of those to be served in prison and the balance to be suspended.
Rawls was arrested again in 2004 on a pair of third-degree burglary charges, records show, though one of those was dropped. After Rawls pleaded guilty, Johnston sentenced him to 15 years, though only one of those was to be served in confinement, the rest suspended.
Prior to those charges, Rawls was arrested and convicted of first-degree theft of property and firing a weapon into a building or vehicle.
He said Owens had a dispute with neighborhood children who were playing basketball on the street. They told their parents, who were having a large get-together with friends.
“Really, the party just kind of moved down there,” Levy said.
It was not the first time violence erupted between Rawls and Owens. Levy said the 2 traded racist epithets in July 2009 and that Rawls assaulted Owens. While a witness initially told police that Rawls had used a baseball bat, Levy said the suspect denied that, insisting he had only used his hands. The witness later said he could not be sure a bat was used, Levy said.
At any rate, Levy said, the District Attorney’s Office reduced the charge to third-degree assault and dropped it when Owens declined to pursue it.
Rawls’ first-degree assault conviction occurred in 2000, when Circuit Judge Joseph “Rusty” Johnston sentenced him to 15 years, with 2 of those to be served in prison and the balance to be suspended.
Police arrested him again in 2004 on a pair of third-degree burglary charges, records show, though one of those was dropped. After Rawls pleaded guilty, Johnston sentenced him to 15 years, though only one of those was to be served in confinement, with the rest suspended.
Prior to those charges, Rawls was arrested and convicted of first-degree theft of property and firing a weapon into a building or vehicle, according to court records.