The Legitimacy of Alabama’s Legal System
Only in Alabama, the fatal consequences of a crime can lead to a murder conviction.
Like the United States Capitol (pictured), Alabama’s State Capitol created the Accomplice Liability Law that allowed an innocent man to be charged for murder.
On February 23, 2015, police responded to a burglary in progress. Five men, including A’Donte Washington and Lakeith Smith, were caught while in a home in Millbrook, Alabama. When the police arrived, Washington pulled out his .38 pistol and allegedly shot at the officers while fleeing the scene. Body camera footage showed the officer firing at Washington and killing him.
Because of Alabama’s Accomplice Liability Law, which applies to any felony that occurs as a consequence of a crime already committed, all accomplices to the first crime can be held responsible for that felony. In this case, all four accomplices were charged with the murder of A’Donte Washington. Three out of the four accomplices, Jadarien Hardy, Jhavarske Jackson, and La’Anthony Washington, accepted plea deals and are awaiting sentencing. Lakeith Smith, on the other hand, turned down his plea deal of a recommended sentence of 25 years.
Smith was found guilty of murder even though he did not shoot his friend. According to Alabama law, he was involved in criminal activity that led to the death of his friend. This resulted in the court holding Smith and his three friends responsible for the murder of Washington.
Judge Reynolds sentenced Lakeith Smith to 65 years in prison, not only for the crime but for his attitude in court.
This last Thursday, April 12th, 2018, Alabama Judge Sibley Reynolds sentenced Lakeith Smith to 65 years in prison– 30 years for felony murder, 15 years for burglary, 10 years for theft in the 2nd degree, and 10 years for theft in the 3rd degree.
Before sentencing, the judge confronted Smith about comments he made earlier in the courtroom. Judge Reynolds addressed the court and Smith directly, stating, “I called the case earlier and you said you ‘ain’t got time for this.’ So, I didn’t know if you had time for this now?” Smith laughed, loudly, while looking down. “You just don’t get it, do you?” The judge continued, “He hasn’t said I’m sorry yet. He hasn’t acknowledged to this court that he shouldn’t have done, shouldn’t have come around, in fact, his attitude toward this court and life, in general, has been sour.”
The judge was quick to sentence Smith to an extensive prison term, thus Alabama’s strictness and respect for the law resulted in a murder conviction of an eighteen-year-old man.
Lakeith Smith will be serving his 65-year sentence constitutively. “I don’t think Mr. Smith will be smiling long when he gets to prison.” Says C.J. Robinson, chief assistant district attorney.
For more information go to WSFA, USA Today, Newsweek, and Huffington Post.
