MARIETTA, GA (CBS ATLANTA) - A Cobb County judge has sentenced a teenager convicted of severely beating a 94-year-old man to 20 years behind bars.
A jury convicted 15-year-old James Glover of aggravated assault and robbery in the beating of Paul Smallwood last fall.
Judge Steven Schuster sentenced Glover to 20 years per count to be run concurrently. Glover must serve a minimum of 15.
"The consequences of your actions are horrible," Judge Schuster said.
The judge said Paul Smallwood, who was a World War II veteran, did not deserve the beating he received. Schuster called Glover's attack "an attack on the country."
Prosecutors, who said Glover is a member of the gang GMS, had asked for a sentence of 20 years since he is a minor.
Glover's lawyer asked for a sentence of five years, one year for the time he has already served plus two years of house arrest and two more years of probation.
Defense witnesses said Glover is a good kid who got caught in a bad set of circumstances. His attorneys called a steady stream of their own witnesses to the stand to testify on Glover's behalf, including his pastor and the employees who work at the youth detention center where Glover is being held. Witnesses said they believed Glover was not a gang member.
Their testimonies contrast sharply from the guilty verdict a 12-member jury handed down last week.
Prosecutors said Glover and 11-year-old boy beat Smallwood so badly they blackened both of his eyes. Police said Glover, who was 15, and the other young boy beat Smallwood with a rock then stole his wallet cell phone and watch.
Smallwood's niece told the judge she and her family feared he was going to die after the attack. She wanted Glover to undergo counseling to learn greater sensitivity toward older people.
A jury convicted 15-year-old James Glover of aggravated assault and robbery in the beating of Paul Smallwood last fall.
Judge Steven Schuster sentenced Glover to 20 years per count to be run concurrently. Glover must serve a minimum of 15.
"The consequences of your actions are horrible," Judge Schuster said.
The judge said Paul Smallwood, who was a World War II veteran, did not deserve the beating he received. Schuster called Glover's attack "an attack on the country."
Prosecutors, who said Glover is a member of the gang GMS, had asked for a sentence of 20 years since he is a minor.
Glover's lawyer asked for a sentence of five years, one year for the time he has already served plus two years of house arrest and two more years of probation.
Defense witnesses said Glover is a good kid who got caught in a bad set of circumstances. His attorneys called a steady stream of their own witnesses to the stand to testify on Glover's behalf, including his pastor and the employees who work at the youth detention center where Glover is being held. Witnesses said they believed Glover was not a gang member.
Their testimonies contrast sharply from the guilty verdict a 12-member jury handed down last week.
Prosecutors said Glover and 11-year-old boy beat Smallwood so badly they blackened both of his eyes. Police said Glover, who was 15, and the other young boy beat Smallwood with a rock then stole his wallet cell phone and watch.
Smallwood's niece told the judge she and her family feared he was going to die after the attack. She wanted Glover to undergo counseling to learn greater sensitivity toward older people.