Pensacola Man Denied Reduced Sentence for Teen’s Murder: Sentenced to Life Again
A 31-year-old man from Pensacola, Florida had his hopes dashed on Friday as he was denied a reduced sentence for a murder he committed as a teenager. Tywann Carter, who was 16 years old at the time, fatally shot 17-year-old Jarvis Horne and injured 22-year-old Joshua Diggins at a McDonald’s in West Pensacola back in 2008. After being sentenced to life in prison in 2009, Carter was granted a retrial which ultimately led to another life sentence being handed down.
In Florida, juveniles have the opportunity to be resentenced for their crimes after a review and hearing, which could potentially result in a lesser sentence than life imprisonment. However, Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille explained that despite Carter’s attorney, Patrece Cashwell, requesting no more than 20 years, the presiding judge, Coleman Robinson, felt that no other sentence was appropriate considering the circumstances.
Judge Robinson explained his decision by stating, Nothing that has been presented to the court explains why he walked up on unarmed people and opened fire. We’re here because of his decision to fire six shots into a crowd in public along with his co-defendant right beside him firing six more shots.
As a result, not only was Carter resentenced to life for his second-degree murder charge, but he also received a mandatory minimum 20-year sentence for his attempted murder of Diggins. Carter will be eligible to petition for a sentence review in 15 years. None of the victims’ family members spoke at the resentencing hearing.
Carter’s co-defendant, Joe Jenkins, who was 18 years old at the time of the murder, was also charged with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. Jenkins’ case went through a retrial as well, and he was found guilty on both counts and sentenced to life in prison.
The shooting at the McDonald’s in 2008 was the result of a confrontation that started when Carter and Jenkins crossed the street and approached the victims for no apparent reason. The two assailants began opening fire, each firing six shots at Horne and Diggins. Horne was fatally shot in the chest, while Diggins suffered a gunshot wound to the hip.
It is worth noting that the McDonald’s shooting also led to another shooting near the Cordova Mall later that same year, although no one was injured in that incident.
This case highlights the complex issue of sentencing juveniles who commit serious and violent crimes. While Carter’s attorney argued for a shorter sentence due to his age at the time of the offense and his alleged mental infirmities, Judge Robinson believed that the severity of the crime warranted a life sentence. This decision sparks a debate over the appropriate punishment for such crimes committed by young individuals.
As the legal process moves forward, it remains to be seen if Carter will seek further appeals in the future. The case serves as a reminder of the lasting impact that violent crimes can have on individuals and communities, as well as the difficulties faced by the justice system in determining appropriate sentences for juvenile offenders.
