Man accused of blinding Ypsilanti man with pellet gun may go to boot camp
The 23-year-old Ypsilanti man accused of shooting a 53-year-old man in the eye with a pellet gun last August was sentenced to more than two years in jail, but may go to boot camp instead.
Antonio Frank Thomas
Courtesy of the WCSO
The sentence was reduced from the standard 36 to 120 months, as requested by Thomas' attorney, Michael J. Vincent, so Thomas could remain be eligible for boot camp.
Vincent said he believed boot camp would be more appropriate for him than jail because Thomas had led a clean life until recently, having graduated from high school and attending a university in Ohio for a semester before returning home for undisclosed reasons.
"He's not a gangster, he's not a gang-banger," Vincent said. "He's somebody who went to hell in a handbasket for a short period of time."
O'Brien's The Department of Corrections will evaluate Thomas for the boot camp program within the next 60 days. If accepted, he will go through boot camp in lieu of jail time and will then be released on parole.
Thomas previously faced related charges including armed robbery, assault with intent to rob while armed, assault with intent to murder and assault with a dangerous weapon. But those charges were dismissed upon sentencing as part of his plea deal.
Kody Klein is an intern for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at kklein@mlive.com
Comments
OLDTIMER3
Wed, Mar 6, 2013 : 2:19 p.m.
@greg, that is because in other countries they don't put every crime story in the papers, and they execute a different punishment. Like caught stealing in some they lop off a hand or public lashings.
A A Resident
Wed, Mar 6, 2013 : 12:33 p.m.
Aren't we lacking information on whether the blinding ended up being permanent?
brian
Wed, Mar 6, 2013 : 4:03 a.m.
Uh no, send him to jail. Do not pass go do not collect 200 dollars.
Greg
Tue, Mar 5, 2013 : 7:29 p.m.
Assuming the guy is truely bad without knowing him is as bad as assuming he is good and will never do bad again. Not sure the punishment fits the crime, but judge is trying to keep this guy out of an already overloaded system. We already have a high portion of our citizens in jail that any other "civilized" country in the world. We can't afford much more of this.
Sue
Wed, Mar 6, 2013 : 7:29 p.m.
True, so let those that are behind bars for using drugs out. Unless they hurt someone else or was driving under the influence, there's no reason to have people locked up for doing harmful things to themselves. The one's that need to be locked up are those who are doing harmful things to others.
Mybrotherkeeper
Tue, Mar 5, 2013 : 7:01 p.m.
People on here need not to judge if you do not know the whole story of the actions that took place. You only reading what the editor wrote and he or she is only getting basic information so that you as people can read and try to disgrace someone on here. Well first he never shot the victim in the eye and the victim is not BLIND so for everyone on here that has NEGATIVE THINGS TO SAY go to court for some of the cases and then judge what a person should get or not.
Sue
Wed, Mar 6, 2013 : 7:36 p.m.
Mybrotherkeeper, are you saying you know who shot the man in the eye? Because someone did shoot him in the eye which left him blind in that eye.
jcj
Wed, Mar 6, 2013 : 5:03 p.m.
@Mybrother Just like in The Shawshank Redemption! Everyone in here 9prison)is innocent! As far as going to court. As soon as one of my friends or family commits a crime I WILL be in court!
Mybrotherkeeper
Tue, Mar 5, 2013 : 7:48 p.m.
Well if u look at the first article it states a "GROUP OF PEOPLE" he only pointed out one person as you can see. The police acted as if they did not want everyone else again try to go to some of these cases and you will have a clear understanding. Again he did not shot him in the eye.
cinnabar7071
Tue, Mar 5, 2013 : 7:21 p.m.
You're saying someone else shoot the victim in the eye, because the one fact that can't be disputed is the victim lost an eye. Why don't you tell us what you know and how you know it and maybe that will clear this whole thing up.
notta
Tue, Mar 5, 2013 : 6:17 p.m.
typical washtenaw county court system. every criminal starts somewhere. this criminal attempted to rob someone with a fake gun which altimately cause lifelong injuries. when he gets out of boot camp we will read about this young thug using a real gun to committ crimes....should be criminal that judges sentence these thugs like s five year old in a time out
cinnabar7071
Tue, Mar 5, 2013 : 5:55 p.m.
In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king.
jcj
Tue, Mar 5, 2013 : 5:28 p.m.
Maybe the best punishment would be an eye for an eye and let him go.
GoNavy
Tue, Mar 5, 2013 : 4:54 p.m.
"Blind" generally means you can't see. This man was "blinded in one eye." That is, he can still see. I have a family member with one eye. You wouldn't say s/he is blind in any way.
harry b
Tue, Mar 5, 2013 : 4:24 p.m.
Mom always said you would shoot your eye out.
jcj
Tue, Mar 5, 2013 : 4:14 p.m.
The list of charges that were dropped as a result of this plea deal, should send the judge and prosecutor to jail!
Basic Bob
Wed, Mar 6, 2013 : 12:40 p.m.
The list of charges filed should send the prosecutor to jail for wasting the court's time. If there was a realistic chance to win they would not be dropped.
JRW
Tue, Mar 5, 2013 : 3:32 p.m.
"Thomas previously faced related charges including armed robbery, assault with intent to rob while armed, assault with intent to murder and assault with a dangerous weapon. But those charges were dismissed upon sentencing as part of his plea deal." Incredible. Why were the charges dismissed that he actually committed? He blinded an individual for life. "He's not a gangster, he's not a gang-banger," Vincent said. "He's somebody who went to hell in a handbasket for a short period of time." Right. That's why he blinded someone, was arrested for armed robbery and assault with intent to murder. These plea deals are unbelievable. Throw this thug in jail for a long time.
Michigan Reader
Tue, Mar 5, 2013 : 10:07 p.m.
Sometimes prosecutors overcharge to use as a bargaining chip to get a plea to the actual crime that was committed. The defendant doesn't want to gamble before a jury on the higher charges.
Arboriginal
Tue, Mar 5, 2013 : 3:22 p.m.
That'll fix him!
Tru2Blu76
Tue, Mar 5, 2013 : 3:15 p.m.
I'm sorry, but I can't see "attending a university in Ohio" as a sign of Mr. Thomas's "clean life." I can see leniency being applied if he'd "attended a University in East Lansing" but never for this! ;-)
justcurious
Tue, Mar 5, 2013 : 3:08 p.m.
The man is blinded for life. This sentence is wrong.
justcurious
Tue, Mar 5, 2013 : 3:09 p.m.
"Thomas previously faced related charges including armed robbery, assault with intent to rob while armed, assault with intent to murder and assault with a dangerous weapon. But those charges were dismissed upon sentencing as part of his plea deal."
walker101
Tue, Mar 5, 2013 : 2:51 p.m.
Now he'll go to school on how to shoot a real gun. Great.
Basic Bob
Wed, Mar 6, 2013 : 12:37 p.m.
I doubt it's that kind of boot camp. It's just a rustic prison.
dean
Tue, Mar 5, 2013 : 2:46 p.m.
I say, when the other guy can see in that eye again, then let him out.
Dave
Tue, Mar 5, 2013 : 2:40 p.m.
Uh, but so what? Do the crime, serve the time. No boot camp for people who lack the respect of others.
Michigan Reader
Tue, Mar 5, 2013 : 10 p.m.
But boot camp is supposed to turn him around, for the good of society. That's just one of several purposes of criminal sanction.