Request to reduce sentence deniedBy Schuyler Kropf (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Previous storiesMan jailed after woman attacked on beach path published 05/01/07 Sullivan's residents worried; Woman's beating raises safety issues published 04/29/07 A Charleston judge denied a request Wednesday to reduce the 15-year prison sentence of a man who attacked a woman on a Sullivan's Island beach path last year. Patrick Sanders, 34, of Hanahan, pleaded guilty in December to assault and battery with intent to kill. His attorney had asked for a reduction, saying that the sentence was disproportionate to what took place. Public Defender Ashley Pennington also said the woman's injuries were not so severe as to arise to an attempt to kill her. He compared the situation to something that might come as a result of a bar fight. The attack was out of character for Sanders, he added, saying Sanders had been under emotional family stress. According to police, Sanders walked up to the woman and asked about the tide before attacking her on an access trail near Station 16. The woman, in her early 20s, answered the man's question and continued walking toward her car, police said, before he ran up behind her and tried to drag her into the woods. He hit her face and neck with his hands and with a blunt object, later identified as a slap jack, police said. The victim, who was in court Wednesday, said the comparison to a bar fight was "ridiculous," and that her injuries were severe. "I don't think that because I'm lucky, he should get a break," Parrish Smith, 25, said. Ninth Circuit Assistant Solicitor Julie Cardillo opposed the reduction request, saying the attack was halted only after a good Samaritan approached the scene. Sanders shouldn't be rewarded "because the defendant didn't get to finish what he started," she said. Circuit Judge Roger Young denied the reduction request, saying an unprovoked attack on an innocent stranger is someone's "worst nightmare." Sanders was returned to prison after the hearing. |
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Comments
This article has 29 comment(s)
Posted by Cid95 on August 28, 2008 at 3:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good call. More of the same needed.
Posted by ForPnC on August 28, 2008 at 3:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good work!
Posted by WhoCares on August 28, 2008 at 5:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Stooopid lawyer!! He shoulda waited until Obama becomes pres...when de dems gets into powah theys gonna let all de crooks and crimnals gets out early!
Posted by abitskeptical on August 28, 2008 at 6:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, Judge Young, this is one of those people who needs to be separated from the rest of us. He needs to serve his entire sentence, but he'll probably be out in 9 or so years.
Posted by moonpie on August 28, 2008 at 6:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
DAY 3 OF THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION AND NOTHING IN THE P&C?
Oh we'll see these guys again in the paper or on the news probably robbing some taco stand an illegal owns.
Posted by DanniD on August 28, 2008 at 6:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope he rots in jail....why would anyone even consider letting him out? He randomly attacked an innocent person minding her own business. what a psycho
Posted by DoaMM on August 28, 2008 at 7:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Keep him in the pokey.
Lot of stories today on "prison" crap, eh?
Posted by CMLMADDOG on August 28, 2008 at 7:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Forgiveness is one thing....
Taking responsibility for your bad choices in life is another.
A crime was committed, therefore punishment is in order.
Posted by wonderdog on August 28, 2008 at 7:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
To paraphrase:
Aww, come on, Judge. Sure she was beaten up, but it's not like she was so badly injured she was actually going to DIE. Somebody stopped him before he killed her, so cut the guy a break!!!! After all, he was a little stressed out that day.
Ok, I get it, now he's justified. Comparing this woman's injuries to those she could have gotten in a bar fight are an insult to this victim and others.
Posted by DoaMM on August 28, 2008 at 7:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
HeyZeus...I see you on all the boards forgiving everyone but you haven't forgiven the man in the child porn article. Why not? Isn't he a child of God too? Maybe in his 51 years of living he has just "lost his way" and "knows not what he does".
Hypocrite.
Anyway, getting back on track...Keep him in the pokey...to be pokeyed!
Posted by Tammie on August 28, 2008 at 7:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The attorney for this "man" has huge "harblz" to ask the judge to reduce the sentence. That "man" (and I'm using the term loosely) could have killed that lady! I'm glad she survived but she has emotional scars that may never heal.
Hey Zeus, I am from Charleston, born and raised. My God says forgiveth this "man" but my Nike just wants to aim for his "brown bag" and "Just do it"!!! Will God forgive me?
I hope she makes a speedy emotional recovery.
Posted by DoaMM on August 28, 2008 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tammie..."harblz"? You're startin' off the day strong with those complex words!
:)
Posted by Tammie on August 28, 2008 at 8 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lol...would you rather I say "balls"? Lol I was trying to be "Tamlitically correct". Trying.
Posted by WhoCares on August 28, 2008 at 8:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Zeus, I too am from Charleston. I don't know what Bible you're reading, but the one I read (I admit it's been years) had an awful lot of "smiting" going on... doesn't sound too forgiving to me!!!
I say smite this criminal ...and his lawyer for wasting the court's time with his idiotic argument.
Posted by cassique on August 28, 2008 at 8:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Public Defender Ashley Pennington,
How could you possibly make this argument?
Posted by counterpoint on August 28, 2008 at 8:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"The attack was out of character for Sanders, he added, saying Sanders had been under emotional family stress. "
How ironic! As an IoP resident, whenever I'm stressed, I go (armed) to Hanahan and question random women about traffic patterns before attacking them and attempting to drag them behind some discarded hubcaps, where I of course release them unharmed.
This world has some great parallels. Thanks YOU Mr. Pennington for pointing out another one! Super!
Posted by DoaMM on August 28, 2008 at 8:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Tamlitically Correct"...our new term for PCness! I'm keeping that one.
The court system is built with checks and balances and I guess I can't outright blame the attorney for his attempt at a lesser sentence. But knowing that:
You know what you call 1000 lawyers at the bottom of the ocean?
A good start...
Posted by geekboy on August 28, 2008 at 8:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by moonpie on August 28, 2008 at 6:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
DAY 3 OF THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION AND NOTHING IN THE P&C?
------------------------------------
WTF are you ranting about? When I walked past a news stand this morning, I saw a copy of today's P&C that had 3 inch typeface on the front page announcing that the DNC had made "history" and nominated Jesus Obama Christ as the Democratic Party nominee for President.
Posted by BigSargeofSC on August 28, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Just because this man has lost way doesn't mean he is not a child of our lord God and savior."
Oh, sure, this criminal can give his heart to God, but his azz belongs to "Big Bubba" and the "girls".
Good call, Judge.
Posted by DanniD on August 28, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by HeyZeusCristos on August 28, 2008 at 7:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just because this man has lost way doesn't mean he is not a child of our lord God and savior.
"And we shall forgive this man, for he knows not what he hath done"
Many of you all are not FROM Charleston. I am FROM here and have a chishtian southern upbringing which tells me to forgiveth this man.
WTH does being from Charleston have to do with anything?
Posted by DanniD on August 28, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
cypress-jones I didn't write that crap, HeyZeusCristos wrote it....you would never catch me spewing that kind of nonsense. I copied what they wrote and asked them WTH did being from Charleston have to do with anyting.
This is what I originally posted:
I hope he rots in jail....why would anyone even consider letting him out? He randomly attacked an innocent person minding her own business. what a psycho
Posted by jeff61 on August 28, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Jones,,, Our old friend is posting that stuff
Posted by RTC on August 28, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I do believe that Judge Young may have been catching some flack about his prior lenient sentences.
This man needs to serve every single day of his sentence. He sounds like an extremely violent person who would most probably graduate to murder very easily.
This lady is lucky to be alive as it is, and she could have very well died from her injuries.
I truly hope that she can work past her emotional scars as she has overcome her physical injuries.
Posted by WhoCares on August 28, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
geekboy I don't think moonpie ever sees the actual paper...just the electronic version here...and apparently hasn't noticed that the list of articles on the right are the "Latest local stories." Of course moonpie may be in Denver, in which case the DNC would be local :))
Posted by JC on August 28, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great to hear the Judge made the right decision. Let God deal with him later - we have him now so he follows our laws!
Posted by guidedbystewart on August 28, 2008 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by HeyZeusCristos on August 28, 2008 at 7:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just because this man has lost way doesn't mean he is not a child of our lord God and savior.
""And we shall forgive this man, for he knows not what he hath done"
Many of you all are not FROM Charleston. I am FROM here and have a chishtian southern upbringing which tells me to forgiveth this man."
Are you for real,is this a joke, or are trying to make a point? Curious, you can meassage me if you don't want the world to know?
Posted by DanniD on August 28, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
HeyZeusCristos can't be for real....what a loon.
Posted by jeff61 on August 28, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Zues is Sofa King / Kring / other names they used
Posted by grannyofseven_2 on August 28, 2008 at 1:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
True southern up bring says take this man behind the woodshed
And make a real woman out of him.
I am a stressed out menopausal women with the attitude of a bull dog I can take care of him