THE DENNY BEATING TRIAL: THE VERDICTS : The Verdicts
On Monday, most of the verdicts in the trial of Damian Monroe Williams and Henry Keith Watson were released.
Some convictions were for lesser crimes that are automatically included in the primary charge. For instance, the primary charge of assault with a deadly weapon carries a lesser charge of misdemeanor assault. Also, in some cases--such as the charge of premeditated attempted murder against Watson--a lesser, related charge may underlie the primary charge.
DAMIAN MONROE WILLIAMS
Williams was charged with 10 counts involving Reginald O. Denny and six other alleged victims. The verdicts on those counts:
VICTIM: Reginald O. Denny
* Primary charge: Willful, deliberate and premeditated attempted murder
Verdict: Still deliberating
Punishment: Life in prison
* Primary charge: Aggravated mayhem
Verdict: Not guilty of aggravated mayhem; guilty on lesser charge of simple mayhem.
Punishment: 2 to 8 years for simple mayhem. (Could have been life in prison for aggravated mayhem.)
* Primary Charge: Robbery
Verdict: Not guilty
Punishment: Could have been 2 to 5 years (with possibility of an additional 3 years for intentional infliction of great bodily injury and 1 year for use of a deadly weapon).
VICTIM: Alicia Maldonado
* Primary charge: Assault with deadly weapon
Verdict: Not guilty of assault with deadly weapon; guilty of lesser charge of misdemeanor assault.
Punishment: A maximum of 6 months and/or $1,000 fine for misdemeanor assault. (Could have received 2 to 4 years for assault with deadly weapon.)
VICTIM: Jorge Gonzalez
* Primary Charge: Assault with deadly weapon
Verdict: Not guilty of assault with deadly weapon; guilty of lesser charge of misdemeanor assault.
Punishment: A maximum of 6 months and/or $1,000 fine for misdemeanor assault. (Could have received 2 to 4 years for assault with deadly weapon.)
VICTIM: Terrance Manning
* Primary Charge: Assault with deadly weapon on a firefighter
Verdict: Not guilty
Punishment: Could have received 3 to 5 years
VICTIM: Fred Mathis
* Primary charge: Assault with deadly weapon on a firefighter
Verdict: Not guilty
Punishment: Could have received 3 to 5 years
VICTIM: Fidel Lopez
* Primary charge: Assault with deadly weapon
Verdict: Not guilty of assault with deadly weapon; guilty of lesser charge of misdemeanor assault.
Punishment: 6 months and/or $1,000 fine for misdemeanor assault. (Could have received 2 to 4 years for assault with deadly weapon.)
VICTIM: Takao Hirata
* Primary charge: Assault with deadly weapon
Verdict: Not guilty of assault with deadly weapon; guilty of lesser charge of misdemeanor assault.
Punishment: A maximum of 6 months and/or $1,000 fine for misdemeanor assault. (Could have received 2 to 4 years for assault with deadly weapon.)
* Primary charge: Robbery
Verdict: Not guilty
Punishment: Could have received 2 to 5 years
HENRY KEITH WATSON
Watson was charged with five counts involving Denny and two other victims. The verdicts on those counts:
VICTIM: Reginald O. Denny
* Primary charge: Willful, deliberate and premeditated attempted murder
Verdict: Not guilty of premeditated attempted murder; guilty of lesser, related charge of misdemeanor assault.
Punishment: A maximum of 6 months and/or $1,000 fine for misdemeanor assault. (Could have received life in prison for premeditated attempted murder.)
* Primary charge: Robbery
Verdict: Not guilty
Punishment: Could have received 2 to 5 years (with the possibility of 3 years for the intentional infliction of great bodily injury).
VICTIM: Larry Tarvin
* Primary charge: Assault with deadly weapon
Verdict: Still deliberating
Punishment: 2 to 4 years (with the possibility of 3 additional years for intentional infliction of great bodily injury).
* Primary charge: Robbery
Verdict: Not guilty
Punishment: Could have received 2 to 5 years (with the possibility of 3 years for the intentional infliction of great bodily injury).
VICTIM: Alicia Maldonado
* Primary charge: Assault with deadly weapon
Verdict: Not guilty
Punishment: Could have received 2 to 4 years