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School Bus Routes Off To Bumpy Start
By Jessica Taloney Reporter
Published: Tue, March 11, 2008 - 10:59 am
Jessica Taloney
Parker, who was charged as an adult with 2nd degree assault, plead guilty Tuesday morning to punching a Murphy High School teacher in the face and knocking her to the ground. The attack was recorded by the school's security camera, which shows Melinda Rudisill, 61, falling to the ground.
Parker's plea came just minutes before his trial was set to begin.
"I apoligize to Mrs. Rudisill for what I did," Parker told the judge.
The judge accepted the guilty plea and sentenced Parker to a ten year split term. Under Alabama law, the teen is required to serve 80% of his sentence. The judge ordered him to serve three years in a state prison and five years on formal probation.
Assistant District Attorney Caroline Siderius says Parker's sentence is exactly what she would have recommended if the jury found him guilty.
Parker's attorney, Christine Hernandez, relunctantly talked to the media after the sentencing. Hernandez said there are no winners in this case because a teenager is going to prison.
A another former Murphy High School student, Dominick Harris, 17, is also charged in this same attack. Harris, who struck a deal with prosecutors last year in exchange for youthful offender status, is accused of recording the assault on his cell phone. Harris is expected to be sentenced next week.
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Well I quess he just wanted to look like a big deal in front of his friends. Where I come from you do not smack a person in authority or a lady. My son is 19 and if he and his girlfriend or my son and his sister disagree I have taught him to walk away. If he has a problem with athority or women I told him to come smack me. We will divvy it up, because all women are mothers, grandmothers and sisters and he won’t smack the big dog. I am his mother. We need to have hands on and teach these kids RESPECT.