Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 15, 1994 TAG: 9406220039
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By MIKE HUDSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Michael Thomas Crockett responded, ``If there is a God.''
Perhaps, Judge Kenneth Trabue interjected, Crockett had misunderstood the question.
``I don't believe in God,'' Crockett replied. ``That's why I said it that way.''
Trabue tried a different tack: Would he answer the judge's questions truthfully?
``I might,'' Crockett said. ``I might not. It depends on what questions are being asked.''
Crockett was in Roanoke County Circuit Court on Tuesday to plead guilty to robbing his stepfather and putting a gun to his mother's head and shooting her.
She survived because she ducked her head when he fired. The bullet gouged a path along the side of her head.
Crockett, 25, said Tuesday that he'd actually shot his mother from across the room, and that it had been an accident. ``I didn't walk up to my mom and put the gun to her head - she'd have been dead if I did.''
``But she was shot?'' Trabue asked.
``Yeah,'' Crockett replied. ``So it's the same thing, I guess.''
Under an agreement, Crockett pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, robbery, malicious wounding, use of a firearm, arson and assault. Six related charges were dropped.
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Mark Claytor said he worked out the plea agreement only because Crockett's stepfather, Billy Settles, died a few weeks ago during heart surgery. Without his testimony, Claytor said, the case would have been more difficult to prosecute, and tougher on Crockett's mother, Mary Settles. ``Mrs. Settles has been through hell,'' Claytor said.
Claytor gave this summary of the case against Crockett:
Crockett got out of prison in late 1992 after serving a sentence for burglary. His mother and stepfather set him up in an apartment and tried to help him get a job. But Crockett didn't think they'd done enough.
About 6:30 one Sunday morning - Jan. 24, 1993 - Billy and Mary Settles were getting ready for church when they saw Crockett pull into the driveway of their Mount Pleasant home. Mary Settles knew there would be trouble, so she asked her husband to dial 911.
Crockett pushed his way into the house with a small pistol in his hand. ``I need money,'' he said. ``I don't have any, and I need to talk to you.''
He put the pistol into Billy Settles' back and made him go get another pistol that belonged to the stepfather.
Then he sat both of them down in the living room and complained that they hadn't visited or written him enough while he was in prison. ``I ought to kill both of you right now,'' he said.
He put the gun to his mother's head and fired.
Moments later, Roanoke County police officers arrived and found Crockett cradling his mother in his arms. One officer grabbed him by the hair and wrestled him to the floor.
On May 10, 1993, Crockett came out of his cell in the county jail and grabbed a female jailer in the crotch. The next day, deputies smelled smoke coming from Crockett's cell. He was alone, but they heard him say, ``It's burning real good now.'' He had set his bedsheet on fire.
Crockett's attorney, Lance Hale, said Crockett was in a haze of alcohol and drugs when he shot his mother.
Hale said Crockett also has a history of psychological problems. Hale said one indication of that was the fact that Crockett set the fire in his jail cell.
But Claytor said Crockett ``clearly knows right from wrong - he's just mean. ... This son of a gun needs to go down, and go down hard.''
For his part, Crockett told the judge, ``I just want to get it over with and get on down the road'' to prison.
``I'm tired of being in that damn jail.''
Trabue sentenced Crockett to 60 days for the jail assault and one year for arson. Then he ordered that probation officers prepare a background report before Crockett is sentenced on the other charges next month.
``Is that it?'' Crockett asked.
``That's it,'' Trabue said evenly.
Crockett stood up and headed for the door back to the lockup.
Keywords:
ROMUR
by CNB