Teen-ager gets life in prison

Judge sentences 16-year-old for role in 1999 deaths of husband, wife looking to buy drugs

Web posted October 12, 2000

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By Sandy Hodson
Staff Writer

An Augusta teen-ager who admitted his guilt in a double homicide was sentenced Wednesday to a lifetime behind prison bars.

Quinton Cummings, 16, was in the second day of his Richmond County Superior Court trial when he decided to plead guilty to the 1999 murders of James and Lisa Stone.

Quinton Cummings: Teen-ager was sentenced to life in prison for his role in 1999 killings. FILE/STAFF

Mr. Cummings' decision came after a judge's ruling that the jury could hear a tape recording of the statement he gave Richmond County sheriff's Sgt. Wayne Bunton just hours after the Stones were shot while sitting in their vehicle at the corner of McElmurray Drive and Dupont Street.

Mr. Cummings, then 14, told the investigator that he and two other teens decided that night to rob customers who might stop to purchase the fake crack cocaine they had concocted, Assistant District Attorney John Markwalter said.

There was talk from either Judson Harden, 15 at the time, or Justin Williams, then 16, to shoot a victim in the head, Mr. Markwalter said. Although Mr. Cummings' police statement indicated he tried to distance himself from any intention to kill, he went out to rob people at gunpoint with others who he knew were bent on murder, Mr. Markwalter said.

``He made no effort or attempt to warn the victims,'' the prosecutor said.

Mr. and Mrs. Stone, of Edgefield, S.C., drove across the river in the early morning hours of July 11, 1999, in search of crack. They found the three teen-agers willing to sell them a $20 piece of crack. When Mr. Stone realized he had been sold fake crack, he demanded his money back. An argument began, and Mr. Harden opened fire.

Mr. Stone, 30, died at the scene. Mrs. Stone, 27, died four days later.

Mr. Harden was convicted in April of all charges and is now serving a prison sentence of two life terms plus 30 years. Mr. Williams pleaded guilty to armed robbery. He is serving a 20-year prison sentence.

In Georgia, juveniles convicted as adults serve any prison sentence in a juvenile facility until reaching age 17. At that time, they are transferred to an adult penitentiary.

Reach Sandy Hodson at (706) 823-3226.

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