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Repeated patterns of misbehavior = time in prison. See ya in 15.
It was a murder case compromise that pleased neither side Tuesday.
James Earl Wright Jr., 47, insisted he was only protecting himself and his family after pleas to police and neighborhood leaders failed.
Glenn W. Doe's parents are crushed by what they believe is the senseless death of their 19-year-old son, shot down the afternoon of Nov. 9, 2008. Even if Mr. Wright had the right to fire the first shot, he had no right to continue firing a rifle at a fleeing victim, the prosecutor said.
On Tuesday in Richmond County Superior Court, Mr. Wright pleaded guilty to aggravated assault. Assistant District Attorney Hank Syms asked for 20 years in prison, and Assistant Public Defender Josh Smith asked for probation under the First Offender Act.
Judge Sheryl B. Jolly sentenced Mr. Wright to 15 years in prison followed by five years' probation.
The judge said even though Mr. Doe had been aggressive and there was a history of conflict with Mr. Wright, the number of shots fired at Mr. Doe after he was no longer a threat factored into her sentence.
There was bad blood between the two because Mr. Doe believed Mr. Wright's stepson was responsible for the death of a pet snake. When someone stole a truck belonging to one of Mr. Doe's friends, Mr. Doe pointed to Mr. Wright's stepson, the prosecutor said. Words were exchanged more than once, and the day before the shooting a witness heard Mr. Doe threaten Mr. Wright with reference to a gun, Mr. Syms continued.
The afternoon of the final conflict, Mr. Doe, who was known to carry a handgun, showed up at Mr. Wright's North Pine Drive home with two friends, Mr. Syms said. He had wrapped a silver and black dog chain around a fist.
Though the other two men backed down when Mr. Wright came out of his house with the SKS rifle, a semiautomatic carbine, Mr. Doe continued talking.
Mr. Syms said that according to Mr. Doe's friends, the man was shot in the chest as he stood still with his hands up.
Mr. Wright fired at least seven more shots as Mr. Doe tried to flee. He was shot a second time along the shoulders, Mr. Syms said.
Mr. Wright's attorney said Mr. Doe and his friends came beating on Mr. Wright's door a day after he had been threatened by Mr. Doe.
He fired at Mr. Doe when the young man advanced threateningly, Mr. Smith said.
"I'm sorry for what happened that day," Mr. Wright said.
A former colleague and retired Augusta Police Department lieutenant and the president of the neighborhood association spoke on Mr. Wright's behalf.
They described a good neighbor and family man who once helped save a neighbor from a home invasion. Both said Mr. Wright sought their help with Mr. Doe.
Mr. Syms told the judge that if the case had gone to trial he would have sought to introduce evidence that in 2005 Mr. Wright fired at sheriff's officers who were searching the woods behind his house for an escaped inmate.
"He shoots first and asks questions later," Mr. Syms said.
Mr. Syms confirmed Tuesday that Mr. Wright had been charged with aggravated assault in January 1987 after a 13th Avenue neighbor told police he fired nine shots at her home. The case was dismissed.
Reach Sandy Hodson at (706) 823-3226 or sandy.hodson@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
Repeated patterns of misbehavior = time in prison. See ya in 15.
I don't think he should go to prison. Doe went to Mr.Wright's house and took his buddies with him. Mr Doe was looking for action. That's why he had a silver black dog chain wrapped around his hand. He was going to chain whip Mr. Wright.
Man has right to protect his home and family and self! Its a sad day for all our rights.
With his past experience, I wish he would helped that young man versus killing him. I truly understand his frustration however there is a way to handle anything and killing him is not the answer. This will not be the first our last instance of this and we need to teach these kids versus kill them.
No, I'm for killing them. Some have to be expended to teach the rest a lesson. You don't go to someone's house with your boyz with intent to harm someone you got a beef with. The only thing this gentleman did wrong was to keep shooting.
Do we also blame talk radio and the gun happy NRA for Andrew Swan shooting Brian Lane in Wrens when he ran from the police? Maybe he also was 'looking for action' when he decided to run....I lova a double standard.
LOL justus ! Another stellar post!..."Don't blame him blame the NRA!!"..LOL you are a continued source of amusement.....Please never stop!!
All he had to do was to stop shooting once the man was no longer a threat. He then may have been justified. You can't continue to fire at someone once they are no longer a threat to you unless you know without a doubt that they are a danger to the lives of others if they escape.
Tell that to the NY Cops that shot 41 times at an unarmed man. I think Wright has a history of going " off half cocked" but I can understand in this case. Not saying that he should have killed him but I do understand how it took place.
He had already put a bullet in his chest. He was just trying not to let him suffer. You know, like deer hunting.
I trully don't see how the judge found this guy guilty. The dead one went to the guys house with friends and they obviously wern't there for tea. When you look for trouble, sometimes you find it.
Wright was protecting hiself and family, period. He should have received NO jail time.
If someone comes to your home and has already threathened you with volience they get what they deserve. Shot first, ask questions later (15 years in jail, seems excessive).
Judge Jolly reminds me of those TV judges. They automatically come to their own conclusion as it would relate to them. She does not listen to facts. Now, I agree with all who realized that Mr. Doe came to Mr. Wright's home with intent to harm. Yes, he shot him once in the chest but I certainly don't feel he over did it several times. As long as that man was trespassing on his property, I would have kept shooting as well to make sure he NEVER came back. 15 years Judge Jolly, what a JOKE!!!! How many burgulars have been caught and shot several times when surprised by the home owner. Oh, they had the right to protect their home and family I guess you would say. Well, this is no different.
When someone comes to your house looking for trouble, back into the house and wait to be followed. Shotguns are much more accurate than rifles up close. Home invasion means no charge. Going macho and running down the street shooting only gets you 15 years.
i don't think justice was served at all. "HIS BUDDYS" was my family. they did not go over there looking for trouble. they went over there to settle the beef. its not right the MR Wright story is the one published when there is total different story being told. the "DEAD" snake [ is not dead ]. Mr doe did not threaten him days before with a gun. MR Wright threaten Mr Doe & others with a gun. one last thing MR Wright is the one who made all this a big deal not MR Doe and " HIS BUDDYS ". if it was not for him none of this would have happened.
R.i.P Glenn Doe aka JR we love & miss you
English, do you speak it?
Screw Glenn Doe. It may have been wrong for this man to shoot him, but the history of his actions would've lead to someone else RIGHTFULLY shooting him. I don't feel sorry for people like that.
I can only imagine how jacked up Mr. Wright must have been when those fools showed up at his door after all those threats. With all the adrenaline that must have been flowing, I'm not sure he would have been able to stop shooting once he'd started. I believe there are ground for an appeal based on psychological factors of extreme arousal in circumstances like this incident. Not having that kind of testimony included at trial amounts to ineffective legal representation, even by a public defender. The late Mr. Doe is completely responsible for his own demise and for the disruption of Mr. Wright's family. Eternity is a long time for contemplating such egotism.
Hmmm, a justus post w/o reference to race? Golly jee, I wonder why. To justus' credit, he did manage to place the blame on an association rather than the individual. Now, that's the justus we all know and love! If only Mr. Wright hadn't been a minority and this thing had gone to trial, then he could complete the trifecta with our all time favorite, the "biased jury" argument. Awww shucks! Well there's always next time, justus!
everybody wanna talk bad on jr but dnt a single soul kno him so before u judge take a look at ya damn self..dis man deserved life in prison for wat he did yet he get a lousy 15 years...dat s**t is not rite..mii dawg lose his life and all he lose is 15 years of freedom?!?!reguardless of wat beef was goin on he a grown behind man and to shoot a child shows he don't care..he should have been the adult in the situation as long as jr ain't touch him he shouldn't have shot..and for him to keep shooting repeatedly is ridiculous..the first shot should have been enough but then he shouldn't have even shot..he should have called the police...this is not justice served and i'm [filtered word] at the outcome of this..r.i.p jr blood in blood out cuzzo..we got ya homey no doubt..ya family lives on cuz of you man..ya cuzzo jessyce really holdin u down son..you should be proud..but to the grave u went screamin p.i.r.u suwwooopp bbblllaaattt..we live on homey!!!
This " Child" was known to carry a gun. If you cared so much for him, why didn't you and the rest of his so called friends talked him out of going to that man's home? You want to play adults but when you get your little azzes in trouble, you revert back to being a child. I do not know how in the world you figured that you could represent your friend in a respectful way by coming on here with your rambling B.S. If you want to do something in honor of your friend, check yourself and insure that you are doing something positive.
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