Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 7, 1994 TAG: 9404070055
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
No one had questioned Antwaun D. Johnson's attire last month, when he pleaded guilty to wounding a police officer during a brawl at Victory Stadium.
But when Johnson, 17, came back to be sentenced Wednesday wearing the same shirt, both the prosecutor and the judge had questions before he walked away with a three-year prison sentence.
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Ann Gardner asked if Johnson was trying to make a statement. He said he was not, and that the only other shirt he had to wear was one issued by the jail.
"Isn't that better than wearing something like that to court?" Roanoke Circuit Judge Roy Willett asked.
"Yes, sir," Johnson admitted.
But the T-shirt issue was not so easily shed. Gardner brought it up again in asking that Johnson receive a prison sentence.
"He has an attitude problem with authority," she said. "I would submit he is making a statement to the court by wearing that shirt."
Willett followed Gardner's recommendation, sentencing Johnson to three years in prison for the unlawful wounding of Roanoke police Officer E.L. Hopkins.
Johnson was one of about 15 people arrested Sept. 10 when a mass fight broke out next to the stadium at a football game between Patrick Henry and William Fleming high schools.
Hopkins, who was trying to break up a fight between two girls, was punched in the eye as the dispute escalated to what police called a "mob scene." A class ring that Johnson was wearing caused a cut on Hopkins' forehead that required five stitches.
At the time of the incident, Johnson was not attending school because of criminal charges.
Defense attorney David Nixon of Roanoke acknowledged that Johnson's prior record - which includes several other assaults - was hardly "glowing."
In explaining Johnson's actions, Nixon noted that he was placed in the custody of the Social Services Department when he was 2 1/2, and that he changed homes again at ages 7 and 9.
"That type of instability . . . has created a lot of anger that he has not been able to control," Nixon said.
"With that kind of history," Nixon said, pointing to his client, "this is what's going to happen."
by CNB