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Teen sentenced to 15 years

By MELODY MCDONALD
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

FORT WORTH - A 15-year-old boy who said he carjacked and robbed two men at gunpoint within three days to support his drug habit was sentenced Friday to 15 years in the custody of the Texas Youth Commission.

The jury of six men and six women in state District Judge Jean Boyd's court deliberated about two hours in assessing the punishment.

The teen, whose name is not being released because he was prosecuted as a juvenile, was sentenced to 10 years in a youth commission facility for the aggravated robbery and kidnapping of one man, and 15 years for the aggravated robbery and kidnapping of the second victim.

The sentences will run concurrently.

Because the boy was convicted of first-degree felonies, he must serve at least three years before he is eligible for parole. Youth commission officials can also recommend the teen's transfer into the adult system any time after his 16th birthday if he does not show progress in rehabilitation.

The teen admitted Thursday to two counts of delinquent conduct/aggravated robbery and kidnapping, allowing the trial to immediately enter the punish- ment phase.

During the two-day hearing, defense attorney Terry Barlow asked jurors to sentence the teen to probation, saying that he came from a poor family, had an absentee, drug-addicted father and suffered from severe depression.

These factors, he said, contributed to the teen becoming an "around-the-clock crack smoker" whose addiction drove him to rob for money.

He reminded jurors that the teen was polite to his victims and has taken responsibility for his actions.

"We're asking not only for justice, but for mercy," Barlow said. "Give him a chance. Give this 15-year-old boy a chance to be a productive member of society."

Prosecutor Tiffany Burks urged the panel to sentence the teen to the maximum 40 years in youth commission custody, but said "nothing under 25" years would be appropriate.

She told jurors that if the boy - who was in a gang and had a history of running away - had not been caught, there might have been more victims. She said that the boy should not be "rewarded" because he didn't kill his victims, but instead left them in barren areas far from their homes.

"Please return a disposition that would say to him and the community of Tarrant County that we take this seriously," Burks said. "We don't tolerate young people with guns because they want to get high and are on a crime spree."

The teen and his childhood friend, Donald Davis Gipson Jr., 16, were arrested four months ago after being accused of carjacking and robbing two men, one on June 5 and the other on June 8, and then leaving them stranded miles away. The teens drove away in the victims' cars, prosecutors said.

Gipson was certified in July by state District Judge Clifford Davis to stand trial as an adult. He could face up to life in prison if convicted.

The teen sentenced Friday testified that he and Gipson were outside a west Fort Worth grocery store June 5 when they decided to rob a man putting groceries into his car.

Brandishing a 9 mm Beretta, the teen said, he and Gipson carjacked the man, drove him to an automated teller machine and forced him to withdraw $300. They later dropped him off unharmed on a dirt road.

The teens used the money to buy crack cocaine, he said. When the money and drugs ran out three days later, they decided to rob someone else, he said.

This time, the teen said, their victim was a man parking his rental car in a west Fort Worth apartment complex. They drove him to the same ATM, forced him to withdraw $500 and put him in the trunk of the car.

Afraid that he might die, the teen said, he gave the man his medication for high blood pressure and asthma and put the seat down so that he could get some air. They dropped him off unharmed that day in east Fort Worth.

Again, the teen said, they spent the money on crack.

The next morning, officials said, the teens were arrested at a convenience store.

Both victims had contacted police, who had been looking for the stolen vehicle and suspects.

Melody McDonald, (817) 390-7386 mjmcdonald@star-telegram.com