By Ruth Ferguson, NDG Editor
An 18 year-old Quartavious Davis in 2010 participated with others in a series of armed robberies and according to his fellow criminals, he had a gun and was the ringleader of their band of thieves. During one of these crimes he shot at a dog, who was not hurt, more importantly nor was another human physically hurt at any point.
He was convicted in Florida of participating in seven robberies with five other men – each one cut a deal and testified against him, as a result their sentences range in sentences of 9 – 22 years . Davis continues to contend he is innocent and was not even offered a plea bargain deal.
He recently was sentenced to 162 years without the possibility of parole. He is not a habitual criminal, this was the first offense for the African American man.
“Davis’s [sic] unusually long sentence results from a controversial practice known as “stacking,” in which each count of an indictment is counted as a separate crime, thus transforming a first-time defendant into a “habitual criminal” subject to multiple sentences and mandatory sentencing guidelines.”
During his trial an expert testified Davis suffers from bipolar disorder and a learning disability. At time of his arrest he was unemployed, living with an aunt and receiving a monthly $674 disability check from Social Security.
Certainly no one disputes the need for punishment, but to essentially give this young man a virtual death sentence seems like “cruel and unusual punishment” which is what his attorneys plan to argue on appeal. The Supreme Court’s decision last week against issuing such sentences to criminals under the age of 18 does not apply to Davis. He is 20 years-old today but was 18 at the time of the crimes.
Is this really justice? What do you think?
To read more about Davis click here.
I feel so bad reading the punishment given to such a young man. he did not kill or commit any murder but just rubbery. It is very unfair if I will say my mind. What about those that are caught with him? how many years were they sentenced? If this guy is white, they can never pass such discrimination justices on him but everyday black dies in the name of justices in America. What about the personal security who killed black child months ago, he paid some money and the crime was declared mistake but Davis never kill. God will judge those earthly judges according to their judge on others because this is pure hatred. I know that my wards will not make any change but for the world to read and understand the hatred.