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[dramatic music]

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♪ ♪

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- Hi, everyone, I'm Dan Abrams,
and this is "Court Cam."

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- You should be ashamed
of yourself.

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- I want dude off my case.
[spits]

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♪ ♪

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- Got a runner.

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[people yelling]

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- Get out!

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- This is not TV court.
This is for real.

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♪ ♪

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- First up, we go
to a sentencing hearing

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in Cleveland, Ohio.

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♪ ♪

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34-year-old
Matthew Ponomarenko

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has pled guilty to aggravated
murder, kidnapping,

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and endangering children.

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♪ ♪

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Two and a half years earlier,
police say Ponomarenko,

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who had previous convictions
for child endangerment

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and resisting arrest,

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was home with his
five-year-old son Jax

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when he made
a disturbing 911 call.

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♪ ♪

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- When police arrived
at the house,

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they say they found
Ponomarenko on the front lawn

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and placed him under arrest.

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Jax's body was found
in the living room.

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He'd been beaten to death.

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The boy's mother wasn't home
at the time of the incident.

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After undergoing a series
of psychological evaluations

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and being deemed competent
to stand trial,

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Ponomarenko pled not guilty
to the charges.

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But in the 11th hour,
he accepted a deal

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from prosecutors,
pleading guilty

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in exchange for the state not
pursuing the death penalty.

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♪ ♪

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Today is sentencing,

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and Ponomarenko
enters the courtroom

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spewing profanities
about the terms of the deal.

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- Once Ponomarenko
settles down,

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Judge Timothy McGinty
goes over the plea deal.

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- As Ponomarenko settles down,

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the judge gives family members
a chance to deliver

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victim impact statements.

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But just as the victim's
aunt, Jamie Lopez,

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approaches the podium,
Ponomarenko loses it.

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[Ponomarenko screams]

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- All right, we're--

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we'll take--
- I'm sitting!

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- All right, we're going
to take a break.

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Deputies, take him
into the holding cell, please.

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♪ ♪

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- 25 minutes later,
a calmer Ponomarenko

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returns to the courtroom.

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♪ ♪

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- I will never, ever forget
the horrifying phone call

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I received from my sister
screaming, "Jax is dead."

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A mother's scream
from losing a child

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is a sound like no other.

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♪ ♪

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As we learned
about graphic details

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of how Jax was murdered,
it left us

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with so many
gut-wrenching questions.

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Was he scared?

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Was he in pain?

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Was he so very confused
on why the man

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that was supposed to be
his protector,

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supposed to be his hero,
was doing this to him?

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- When she's finished,
Ponomarenko

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was given a chance to speak.

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- I'd like to say I'm sorry.

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[sobbing]

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♪ ♪

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- That's all, Your Honor.
- All right, thank you.

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- Jax's mother did not
appear at sentencing.

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♪ ♪

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The judge sentenced
Ponomarenko to life in prison

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with credit for 960 days
time served.

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He'll be eligible for parole
after 45 years.

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He'd be 77 years old.

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♪ ♪

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Next, we go to Gaylord,
Michigan,

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for a probation
violation hearing.

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♪ ♪

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43-year-old Dustin Musall
has been found guilty

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on three counts of assaulting

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or obstructing
a police officer.

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♪ ♪

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He was sentenced
to two years' probation,

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which included
check-ins with the court

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and regular drug testing.

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But when,
according to police reports,

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Musall failed to meet
with his probation officer

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and allegedly committed
a number of other violations,

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a bench warrant was issued
for his arrest.

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♪ ♪

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Today, Musall appears
from the county jail

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before Judge Michael Cooper
to hear if he'll make bond.

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Also at the hearing
is Luke Hamlin,

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Musall's probation officer.

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- Mr. Hamlin,
could you just describe

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the alleged
probation violation?

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- He has ten violations--

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no-call, no-shows
for drug screens,

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no-shows for office visits,
and one violation

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for threatening
or intimidating behavior.

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- Mr. Hamlin, could you
briefly describe that?

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- Yesterday,
during his office visit,

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Mr. Musall advised me that part
of the reason he did not want

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to come in
for his office visits

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was because he was going
through some stuff.

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I asked him what he was
going through in particular,

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and he stated,
"I wanted to come in

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and kill you and stab you."

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♪ ♪

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- All right--

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- All right,
Mr. Musall, this would

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not be the time to speak.

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- Mr. Musall--

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- Judge Cooper
reminds the defendant

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that this is not a trial.

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- Mr. Musall,
this is just a time

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when I'm advising you
of what the charges are

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of the probation violations.

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You'll get a chance
to dispute them if you want to.

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You also have the right
to a court-appointed attorney.

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Do you wish to seek
a court-appointed attorney?

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Or did you want to proceed
without one or hire your own?

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- All right, now,
when you say that,

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I'm assuming you're asking
for a court-appointed

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attorney, correct?

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- All right.

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One will be appointed
to represent you.

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At this point,
given the allegations,

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I'm not going to set bond.

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But I will schedule this for a
hearing as soon as practical.

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♪ ♪

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- Because the allegation
is that

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you made threatening comments.

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And until I hear
more about it--

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- Mr. Musall--

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- Let--Mr. Musall--

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- All right, we're done.

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This hearing is completed.

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- Let's go.

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Come on.

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- Once Musall's removed,
he can still be heard

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from the hallway
airing his frustrations.

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[Musall shouting indistinctly]

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♪ ♪

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- Musall was later sentenced

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to an in-patient
drug treatment facility.

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His case is pending.

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- Next, we head
to Akron, Ohio,

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for a sentencing hearing.

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♪ ♪

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50-year-old Keith Partin
has been convicted

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of felonious assault.

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♪ ♪

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Five months earlier,
according to police reports,

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Partin approached
Officer Jonathan Travis,

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who was sitting
in his parked police cruiser.

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Without warning, Partin
punched the 44-year-old

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officer in the face.

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Travis remained in his car
and called for backup.

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When a fellow officer asked
why he hit Officer Travis,

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Partin had a curious response.

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- What'd you do that for?

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- What the [bleep]? Why?

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Why are you being
a pain in the [bleep]??

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Put your hands
behind your back, will you?

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Why do you want to go to jail?

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- Done what?

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Come on.

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- I don't give a [bleep]
about your stuff.

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You hit my officer in the face.

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- That's stupid.

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- Well, that's [bleep].

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Damn right,
you're going to jail.

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- The officer
suffered a large cut

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on the inside of his cheek,
a cut lip, and a concussion.

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Partin was officially charged,

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and the case went to trial,
where a jury found him guilty.

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Today, he appears
from the county jail

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before Judge Alison Breaux
to hear his sentence.

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He's facing anywhere
from 2 to 15 years in prison.

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But first, Officer Travis has
a statement for the court.

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- My life has
changed since being

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assaulted by Keith Partin.

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I still cannot remember
anything from the incident.

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I have a series of doctor's
appointments I must attend.

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I get headaches,
forget the names of things,

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cannot multitask,
and struggle to remain focused

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to complete
important assignments.

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These were all simple things
I could do on a daily basis,

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but not now because
of Keith Partin's actions.

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♪ ♪

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Your Honor, I ask that you
provide justice in this case.

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Do not give Keith Partin
the opportunity

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to harm anyone else.

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Please grant Keith Partin
his wish

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and send him to jail
for a long period of time.

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Thank you.
- Thank you, Officer Travis.

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- When he's finished, it's
the defendant's turn to speak.

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- Okay, Mr. Partin, at this
time, you may make a statement.

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Is there anything
you would like to say

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before I impose your sentence?

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- Yes.

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I'm on medical disability.

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I had no choice
but to take the medication

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that the doctors gave me
and, uh,

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deal with the rest of the pain
with the alcohol.

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- All right.
Thank you, Mr. Partin.

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- Judge Breaux is now ready
to impose her sentence.

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- Mr. Partin, to this day
and up until four seconds ago,

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you have never once apologized
or shown any remorse

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with regard to this act.

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To walk up to a police officer
who is sitting in his vehicle,

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minding his own business,
and sucker punch him

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is just unbelievable.

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♪ ♪

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I don't think anybody
could have foreseen

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the amount of damage that
it has caused Officer Travis.

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- Mr. Partin,
you had a chance--

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Mr. Partin, you had
an opportunity to be heard.

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- I am!

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He's making money!

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- You had an opportunity
to be heard.

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And you will--and you
continue to make excuses...

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- I ain't got no excuse.

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- And divert from this act.

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- But he's making money!

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- I'm sentencing you
to a period

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in the Ohio Department
of Corrections

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from 9 to 13 1/2 years.

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♪ ♪

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This is a mandatory sentence.

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You will serve all of that.

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- Okay, if you're going to
continue to interrupt me,

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I'm going to have to
mute you, Mr. Partin.

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I wish you luck.

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I hope that you come to
realize your part in this.

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Thank you.

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- Partin was sentenced to
9 to 13 1/2 years in prison.

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The earliest he could be
released is 2032,

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when he'd be 59 years old.

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♪ ♪

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[dramatic music]

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- Next, we head to
a sentencing in Akron, Ohio.

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♪ ♪

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29-year-old Deair Wray has
been convicted on three counts

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of murder,
firearm specifications,

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improperly discharging
a firearm into a habitation,

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and two counts
of felonious assault.

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♪ ♪

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A year and a half earlier,
police say Wray fired

258
00:12:41,628 --> 00:12:43,696
into the home
of his ex-girlfriend,

259
00:12:43,830 --> 00:12:45,898
22-year-old Dezah Robertson...

260
00:12:46,032 --> 00:12:47,500
[gunshot]

261
00:12:47,634 --> 00:12:49,002
Hitting her friend,
Giovanni Stanford,

262
00:12:49,068 --> 00:12:51,871
multiple times
in the chest and head.

263
00:12:52,005 --> 00:12:54,907
The 23-year-old was taken
to a nearby hospital

264
00:12:55,041 --> 00:12:57,210
but died later that night.

265
00:12:57,310 --> 00:13:00,446
Robertson, who shares a young
child with the defendant,

266
00:13:00,513 --> 00:13:03,316
was hit in the leg
but survived.

267
00:13:03,383 --> 00:13:05,418
The child was home
at the time of the shooting

268
00:13:05,551 --> 00:13:07,587
and was uninjured.

269
00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:09,889
Police say Wray,
who fled the scene,

270
00:13:09,989 --> 00:13:13,359
was jealous over the fact
that Dezah and Giovanni

271
00:13:13,426 --> 00:13:15,528
were spending time together.

272
00:13:15,628 --> 00:13:18,831
Three months later, after
authorities received a tip,

273
00:13:18,931 --> 00:13:20,433
he was arrested
by U.S. Marshals

274
00:13:20,500 --> 00:13:22,535
and officially charged.

275
00:13:22,635 --> 00:13:24,103
Wray pled not guilty,

276
00:13:24,237 --> 00:13:26,306
but after a week-long trial,

277
00:13:26,439 --> 00:13:29,475
a jury convicted him
of all charges.

278
00:13:29,609 --> 00:13:31,344
♪ ♪

279
00:13:31,477 --> 00:13:33,479
Today, Wray appears
from the county jail

280
00:13:33,579 --> 00:13:36,516
before Judge Kathryn Michael
to hear his sentence.

281
00:13:36,649 --> 00:13:41,087
The max he could receive is
32 years to life in prison.

282
00:13:41,187 --> 00:13:43,456
But first,
members of Giovanni's family

283
00:13:43,589 --> 00:13:46,626
are in court to deliver
victim impact statements.

284
00:13:46,759 --> 00:13:50,229
First up is Medira Sampson,
Giovanni's grandmother.

285
00:13:50,296 --> 00:13:52,799
- Giovanni was my grandson.

286
00:13:52,865 --> 00:13:55,668
But he was also my son first.

287
00:14:01,874 --> 00:14:04,277
- Medira's interrupted
when Wray

288
00:14:04,377 --> 00:14:06,212
walks away from the camera.

289
00:14:06,312 --> 00:14:09,549
Judge Michael quickly
addresses the situation.

290
00:14:09,682 --> 00:14:12,185
- Can you please bring the
defendant back into the room

291
00:14:12,318 --> 00:14:14,620
so that we can go through
with the sentencing?

292
00:14:14,754 --> 00:14:16,556
- He's back.

293
00:14:16,656 --> 00:14:18,057
Sit down, Mr. Wray.

294
00:14:18,191 --> 00:14:20,727
- The victim's grandmother
tries again.

295
00:14:20,827 --> 00:14:26,032
- Giovanni has a mother,
a father, a great-grandmother--

296
00:14:26,132 --> 00:14:28,000
- And there he goes again.

297
00:14:28,067 --> 00:14:31,237
- We really need for him
to be restrained

298
00:14:31,337 --> 00:14:36,042
and put in that chair so that
we can finish this sentencing.

299
00:14:36,142 --> 00:14:38,144
- Can you hear me?

300
00:14:38,277 --> 00:14:40,046
- We can hear you.

301
00:14:40,113 --> 00:14:42,882
- Then give me my time
so I can go.

302
00:14:42,949 --> 00:14:45,752
- Sir, have a seat.

303
00:14:45,852 --> 00:14:47,120
We need to get through this.

304
00:14:47,186 --> 00:14:49,222
By law, you have to be there.

305
00:14:49,355 --> 00:14:50,757
♪ ♪

306
00:14:50,823 --> 00:14:52,191
- The lady was talking.

307
00:14:52,291 --> 00:14:54,627
I didn't--I didn't disrespect.
I just walked off.

308
00:14:54,761 --> 00:14:56,996
- You cannot walk away.

309
00:14:57,063 --> 00:14:58,231
- I did, though.

310
00:14:58,297 --> 00:15:00,400
- You have to be there
for your sentence.

311
00:15:00,466 --> 00:15:01,968
I don't know what's
going on at the jail,

312
00:15:02,034 --> 00:15:04,804
but they need to put him
in that seat, please.

313
00:15:04,871 --> 00:15:06,873
- They're gonna get sued if
they put their hands on me.

314
00:15:07,006 --> 00:15:08,875
I'm not--I ain't--
I'm not struggling or nothing.

315
00:15:09,008 --> 00:15:10,276
- Well, I'm asking you--

316
00:15:10,376 --> 00:15:14,414
I'm the judge, and I'm
asking you to sit down now.

317
00:15:14,514 --> 00:15:19,152
We need to hear
from Giovanni's family.

318
00:15:22,989 --> 00:15:25,525
- By law, you do.
Please have a seat.

319
00:15:25,625 --> 00:15:29,061
♪ ♪

320
00:15:29,195 --> 00:15:31,664
You have to give them
the opportunity to speak, sir.

321
00:15:31,798 --> 00:15:34,167
That's part of what
the law states.

322
00:15:34,267 --> 00:15:36,669
- I understand that
for a guilty person,

323
00:15:36,803 --> 00:15:38,037
for somebody else.

324
00:15:38,137 --> 00:15:43,442
- Sir, you were found guilty
by a jury of your peers.

325
00:15:43,509 --> 00:15:45,444
- Wray eventually
settles down,

326
00:15:45,511 --> 00:15:48,948
and Giovanni's grandmother
continues with her statement.

327
00:15:49,081 --> 00:15:54,020
- You killed my grandson
for no reason but for a female.

328
00:15:54,153 --> 00:15:56,489
If you had a problem with him,
I don't see why you

329
00:15:56,589 --> 00:15:58,124
didn't approach him as a man.

330
00:15:58,224 --> 00:15:59,992
But you took his life.

331
00:16:00,092 --> 00:16:01,994
♪ ♪

332
00:16:02,094 --> 00:16:03,162
You think it's funny?

333
00:16:03,229 --> 00:16:04,997
I don't think
it's funny at all.

334
00:16:05,064 --> 00:16:07,867
To take someone's life
is wrong.

335
00:16:07,967 --> 00:16:09,001
It's wrong.

336
00:16:09,101 --> 00:16:10,703
And I want you to pay
with the rest

337
00:16:10,837 --> 00:16:13,606
of your life in that cage.

338
00:16:13,673 --> 00:16:16,075
- Next to speak
is Jamekia Stanford,

339
00:16:16,209 --> 00:16:17,877
Giovanni's mother.

340
00:16:17,944 --> 00:16:20,213
- Giovanni will never
receive true justice.

341
00:16:20,313 --> 00:16:22,281
He will never receive
what is due to him.

342
00:16:22,348 --> 00:16:24,951
He was denied
that opportunity by you.

343
00:16:25,017 --> 00:16:27,920
And you still smiling
and laughing.

344
00:16:27,987 --> 00:16:30,790
Giovanni's natural and legal
rights were stripped from him

345
00:16:30,890 --> 00:16:33,960
as he was hunted by--
like prey by an animal

346
00:16:34,026 --> 00:16:39,398
and murdered in cold blood by
an animal, swine that you are.

347
00:16:39,465 --> 00:16:43,769
You took my son, my son who was
becoming his wildest dreams.

348
00:16:43,870 --> 00:16:45,404
You extinguished those dreams,

349
00:16:45,471 --> 00:16:47,607
and I hope
in your darkest hours,

350
00:16:47,673 --> 00:16:50,076
his dreams
become your nightmares.

351
00:16:50,209 --> 00:16:51,878
♪ ♪

352
00:16:51,978 --> 00:16:55,147
- When she's finished,
Judge Michael sentences Wray

353
00:16:55,281 --> 00:16:58,150
to 29 years to life in prison.

354
00:16:58,251 --> 00:17:01,787
He'll be eligible for parole
in the year 2052,

355
00:17:01,921 --> 00:17:03,990
when he'd be 58 years old.

356
00:17:04,056 --> 00:17:05,925
♪ ♪

357
00:17:09,595 --> 00:17:13,366
- Next, we're in Wyandotte,
Michigan, for a civil hearing.

358
00:17:13,466 --> 00:17:15,368
♪ ♪

359
00:17:15,434 --> 00:17:17,737
69-year-old
Charlesetta Williams

360
00:17:17,837 --> 00:17:23,843
is being sued by her landlord
for $2,917 in back rent.

361
00:17:23,943 --> 00:17:26,546
♪ ♪

362
00:17:26,679 --> 00:17:28,548
Today, Williams
appears remotely

363
00:17:28,681 --> 00:17:30,483
before Judge Elizabeth DiSanto

364
00:17:30,583 --> 00:17:33,019
to discuss next steps
in the case.

365
00:17:33,152 --> 00:17:36,789
She's represented by
public defender Joe Joseph.

366
00:17:36,923 --> 00:17:38,791
But before the judge begins,

367
00:17:38,891 --> 00:17:40,960
she has a question
for the defendant.

368
00:17:49,435 --> 00:17:50,536
- Unmuted.

369
00:18:14,060 --> 00:18:15,528
- But just
a few minutes later,

370
00:18:15,628 --> 00:18:18,965
Williams is back in hot water
with the judge.

371
00:18:46,859 --> 00:18:49,061
♪ ♪

372
00:18:49,195 --> 00:18:50,529
- Judge DiSanto
orders Williams

373
00:18:50,630 --> 00:18:53,032
into the breakout room
with her attorney.

374
00:18:53,099 --> 00:18:56,636
But the defendant has
something else on her mind.

375
00:19:03,876 --> 00:19:06,512
♪ ♪

376
00:19:15,788 --> 00:19:17,690
- After leaving the call
for a few minutes,

377
00:19:17,790 --> 00:19:20,760
Judge DiSanto returns
and asks the public defender

378
00:19:20,826 --> 00:19:22,628
what his client wants to do.

379
00:19:43,049 --> 00:19:45,551
- When Williams is done,
the judge announces

380
00:19:45,651 --> 00:19:47,319
next steps in the case.

381
00:19:56,228 --> 00:19:58,297
Okay?

382
00:19:58,431 --> 00:20:00,633
- Yes, Your Honor.
I apologize about that.

383
00:20:00,733 --> 00:20:02,435
I'm sorry.

384
00:20:02,568 --> 00:20:03,803
- All right. Thank you.

385
00:20:03,869 --> 00:20:05,037
Have a good weekend.

386
00:20:05,137 --> 00:20:07,206
- You as well.
Thank you so much.

387
00:20:07,273 --> 00:20:10,376
- Williams was
later ordered to pay $1,000

388
00:20:10,476 --> 00:20:12,111
to the landlord,
which she did,

389
00:20:12,244 --> 00:20:13,946
and vacate the apartment.

390
00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:17,049
The case is now closed.

391
00:20:17,116 --> 00:20:18,751
That's it for this edition
of "Court Cam."

392
00:20:18,851 --> 00:20:21,287
I'm Dan Abrams.
Thanks for watching.

393
00:20:21,387 --> 00:20:25,991
♪ ♪