In a compelling turn of events, a 32-year-old man named Chad Jamal Richardson, who was initially charged with attempting to murder a man in a motel parking lot, has been sentenced to two years in prison for being in possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. While the jury acquitted Richardson of attempted murder, assault with a firearm, and other charges, they did find him guilty of possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon. Richardson’s lawyer, Joel Garson, confirmed that the jury also acquitted him of lesser charges of attempted manslaughter and assault with a deadly weapon.
Had Richardson been convicted on all counts, he could have faced up to 45 years to life in prison. However, the judge in the case, Orange County Superior Court Judge Larry Yellin, decided not to consider Richardson’s past convictions when determining his sentence. Instead, Yellin sentenced him to two years in prison. Considering the time Richardson has already spent in custody, he could be released in three to five months.
During the sentencing, Richardson expressed gratitude to Judge Yellin for his handling of the situation. He also shared that he has been dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder due to a traumatic incident in his childhood. Richardson emphasized the importance of receiving treatment and counseling for his condition and acknowledged the remorse he feels for his actions. He apologized to the community, the individuals present during the shooting, as well as the victim and his family.
While the specifics of the traumatic incident that Richardson experienced were sealed, Judge Yellin referenced that the defendant had witnessed a deadly police shooting. Yellin also acknowledged that Richardson’s past convictions occurred around 12 years ago and were grouped together in a short period of time. Although Yellin recognized that Richardson acted out of anger when he grabbed the gun, he agreed with Garson’s assertion that the weapon was also used in self-defense.
Deputy District Attorney Taylor Krone argued for a four-year sentence, citing Richardson’s criminal history. However, the judge disagreed and handed down a lighter sentence, highlighting that Richardson had not been convicted of a violent crime.
The case stems from an incident that occurred on November 17th in the parking lot of the Riviera Motel. Richardson had been involved in several heated exchanges with his girlfriend in the parking lot when the victim, Marvin Eli, interjected. Richardson shot Eli in the stomach, but fortunately, the victim survived.
Interestingly, Eli’s involvement in the case took an unexpected turn when his girlfriend, Amy Ramey, who was meant to be a key witness, went missing. This led to a delay in the trial. Surveillance footage presented during the trial showed Eli reaching towards his waistband before the shooting took place. However, the defense argued that Eli’s actions did not pose an immediate threat.
Garson contended that Richardson had acted in self-defense after Eli aggressively confronted him. According to Garson, Eli had a lengthy criminal history and had been previously charged with carrying a knife, leading police on a high-speed chase, and engaging in physical altercations.
The sentencing of Chad Jamal Richardson sheds light on the complexities of the justice system. While Richardson was found guilty of possessing a firearm as a felon, the jury recognized the nuances of the case and acquitted him of more serious charges. This verdict highlights the importance of thoroughly examining the evidence and considering the individual circumstances when determining a defendant’s fate.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
