AGXStarseed
Well-Known Member
(Not written by me. May cause offense or upset)
Andrew Wheeler’s act, caught on cellphone video, sparked national outrage
Judge Sherwood Bauer Jr. told Andrew Wheeler, 19, that he had no choice but to sentence him to 30 years for the 2014 beating of Aaron Hill, 16, who his family said is on the autism spectrum.
“Six years is too short,” said Bauer, “and 30 is too long.”
Bauer’s hands were tied because Wheeler is a felony re-offender, who beat Hill just four months after being released from prison on other charges. Under Florida law, such a re-offender must be sentenced to 30 years.
The cellphone video a friend took of the beating went viral and sparked national outrage.
Bauer said his only option was to sentence Wheeler as a youthful offender, which carries a maximum sentence of six years. And Bauer said he didn’t believe Wheeler qualified because he had been in and out of prison the past four years on a variety of charges. The prosecutor read a litany of charges against him, which included being arrested two times while in jail. One of those times was for urinating on a sleeping fellow prisoner, he said.
“I think you made a decision at about 16 you were going to do what you damn well pleased,” Bauer told Wheeler. “It was a poor decision.”
Wheeler had asked for a more lenient sentence, saying he did not intend the beating to go as far as it did and was sorry.
“But I can’t apologize for standing up for what I believe in - a man was hitting a woman,” Wheeler said, in reference to his claim that a girl called him to the party to eject Hill, who had allegedly gotten physical with her.
Wheeler’s attorney also pointed out that some murderers did not receive 30 years; and that Wheeler was being punished for a five-minute crime when he was just 18.
However, Bauer said the legislature made the laws just for situations like this, and he would impose the sentence.
Wheeler smirked as he was being led to be fingerprinted and winked at his mother, who said they were appealing the sentence.
SOURCE (Including News Video and Video of Beating): http://www.wpbf.com/news/man-who-beat-teen-with-autism-sentenced-monday/35017978
Andrew Wheeler’s act, caught on cellphone video, sparked national outrage
Judge Sherwood Bauer Jr. told Andrew Wheeler, 19, that he had no choice but to sentence him to 30 years for the 2014 beating of Aaron Hill, 16, who his family said is on the autism spectrum.
“Six years is too short,” said Bauer, “and 30 is too long.”
Bauer’s hands were tied because Wheeler is a felony re-offender, who beat Hill just four months after being released from prison on other charges. Under Florida law, such a re-offender must be sentenced to 30 years.
The cellphone video a friend took of the beating went viral and sparked national outrage.
Bauer said his only option was to sentence Wheeler as a youthful offender, which carries a maximum sentence of six years. And Bauer said he didn’t believe Wheeler qualified because he had been in and out of prison the past four years on a variety of charges. The prosecutor read a litany of charges against him, which included being arrested two times while in jail. One of those times was for urinating on a sleeping fellow prisoner, he said.
“I think you made a decision at about 16 you were going to do what you damn well pleased,” Bauer told Wheeler. “It was a poor decision.”
Wheeler had asked for a more lenient sentence, saying he did not intend the beating to go as far as it did and was sorry.
“But I can’t apologize for standing up for what I believe in - a man was hitting a woman,” Wheeler said, in reference to his claim that a girl called him to the party to eject Hill, who had allegedly gotten physical with her.
Wheeler’s attorney also pointed out that some murderers did not receive 30 years; and that Wheeler was being punished for a five-minute crime when he was just 18.
However, Bauer said the legislature made the laws just for situations like this, and he would impose the sentence.
Wheeler smirked as he was being led to be fingerprinted and winked at his mother, who said they were appealing the sentence.
SOURCE (Including News Video and Video of Beating): http://www.wpbf.com/news/man-who-beat-teen-with-autism-sentenced-monday/35017978
