Judge Tells Criminal: 'You Are Not Someone Who Can Conform Yourself to Live in Society'

Last Month, 29-year-old Raymond Lamont Cheatham was found guilty of attempted murder by a Grand Rapids, Michigan jury after after a three-day trial. The case stemmed from a October 2014 incident where Raymond shot 21-year-old Tiesean Hatchett while arguing over a territorial dispute involving who was allowed to deal drugs in a specific are.

Witnesses said that a fight earlier in the day ended badly for Cheatham, who returned armed with a gun. Cheatham grabbed Hatchett and then asked "remember me" before firing three shots into the victim from less than four feet away. Hatchett was struck by bullets in his left arm, side and buttocks. The victim said his injuries required two surgeries and left him with a metal plate in his arm.

At his sentencing today, Raymond gave the judge a list of reasons why his conviction should be overturned. He blamed his conviction on ineffective counsel, his belief that he is not subject to the jurisdiction of a commercial court on fictional charges and claims that his Fourth Amendment rights were violated. Kent County Circuit Court Judge Mark Trusock listened to what he had to say, but after he was finished with his excuses, he called Raymond's argument "jibberish," and pointed to the fact that he was convicted by a jury on facts that were "overwhelming."

Trusock also pointed out that Cheatham has a criminal record that begins at the age of 13 with multiple placements in juvenile facilities for crimes including assault and robbery. Cheatham's adult criminal career began when he was 18 and was charged with attempted murder in the July 14, 2004, shooting of Larry Collins in the 1100 block of Lafayette Avenue SE. Cheatham pleaded guilty to assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and was sentenced in 2005 to two to 10 years in prison. He was also ordered to pay $15,120 in restitution to the victim for health care costs of which court records say Cheatham has paid $197. Cheatham was back in prison four years later on a drug charge sentenced to one to four years, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections. Cheatham's Grand Rapids District Court record includes more than two dozen charges including assaults, drugs, weapons violations and concealing a stolen vehicle. Cheatham was unmarried, jobless and lived with his mother, who wept loudly and fled from the courtroom after Trusock announced the verdict. Trusock said that Cheatham has shown no remorse either during his trial which ended March 18 or Thursday during his sentence hearing. "You are not someone who can conform yourself to live in society," Trusock said, adding that he has no doubt that Cheatham would commit more crimes if allowed to walk free. As Cheatham was led from the courtroom by deputies, he grinned broadly at those seated in the gallery.

This man is a menace. By the way, the judge sentenced him to 40 to 80 years in prison.


source: MLive