Tuesday, June 30, 2009
A man who killed his brother, a woman who threw a toddler across a room and a man who burned down a historic school all pleaded guilty Monday in Waco courts.
Judge Matt Johnson of Waco’s 54th State District Court sentenced Jonathon Satchell, 43, of Lacy-Lakeview, to 20 years in prison for murder in the October fatal stabbing of his brother, Rodrick Satchell, 45.
Police were called to a disturbance in the 200 block of South Barbara Street on Oct. 18 and found the older brother stabbed eight times with a screwdriver, including two fatal wounds to the neck and heart, according to court records.
Authorities have said it is not clear what the brothers were fighting about but said substance abuse played a role in fueling the argument.
In 19th State District Court, a 36-year-old Waco woman who shook a toddler and threw her across the room, causing brain damage, pleaded guilty to injury to a child.
Prosecutors recommended that Tammy Lou Beckett be sentenced to 25 years in prison in a plea bargain offer that comes in the wake of a trial that was interrupted in March after Beckett learned that she was not eligible for probation on the first-degree felony charge.
Judge Ralph Strother said he normally would have readily accepted the plea agreement based on the number of years in prison. However, in this case, the judge said he will delay sentencing until after reviewing a background report from the probation department.
Authorities say Beckett, who was caring for the girl and her older sister at her Woodway Drive apartment while the girls’ parents were at work in March 2008, threw the 10-month-old girl 20 feet across the room and shook her. This caused a fractured skull, cranial bleeding and brain damage, authorities said.
Sentencing is set for Aug. 10.
“It being a serious case, I think the judge was very wise in seeking more information, especially with regard to the health and condition of the child. Mrs. Beckett regrets the incident with all her heart and has cooperated 100 percent with the DA’s office,” said Beckett’s attorney, Guy Cox.
In other court activity, Johnson sentenced Eric Damon Benavidez, 26, to 20 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to arson in the fire that destroyed the historic Sanger Avenue Elementary School in October.
Benavidez; Leticia Ruiz, 22; and Kevin David Allen, 29, all have been sentenced to prison terms now for their roles in a string of arson fires that destroyed the school, the Townhouse Motel, a vacant restaurant on Waco Drive and a Chevrolet Suburban, all on the same night.
twitherspoon@wacotrib.com
757-5737
Comments
By Jennifer
Jun 30, 2009 11:53 PM | Link to this
I agree with Appalled. That poor little 10 month old! That lady should be locked up for a long time. It doesn't matter if she's "sorry" or anything. That little girl is permanently injured. I also have 2 children....and for the life of me I couldn't ever ever ever imagining hurting them. Yeah I get upset and mad, but I deal with it and move on. If someone could lift that woman up and throw her across the room, I say do it. Give her a taste of her own medicine! Throw the book at her and let her rot in jail!
By PINK
Jun 30, 2009 10:34 PM | Link to this
Greetings,
To all that concern:
I was always taught that it was two sides too every story and if you know both sides then you should not say nothing at all. But I guess some people wasn't taught the same morals and values as I was. I am not speaking for all of these of these people , just for Jonathon Satchell. Never judge a book by it's cover always open it up and read it first might read upon something interesting!!!
One Luv Pink for those who know.
God Bless
By BaitSlinger
Jun 30, 2009 8:13 PM | Link to this
25 years just don't seem long enough for Ms.Beckett. The child has been sentenced by Beckett for life, brain damage without the possible of parole.
By Lori
Jun 30, 2009 7:46 PM | Link to this
Renata: this is what I am assuming you meant to write:
First, yes, a killer should get life, but giving people 20 years for burning a building is crazy! How was that history? All they were going do was leave it. It was like all the other abandoned places here in Waco, so get a grip on yourself. You should have given people that much if they burned somebody's house down, not an old building. Love that.
That "abonned" building was owned by private citizens, not the government. They were fixing it up and had already invested quite a bit of money in it, and it contained their personal property. The fact that it means nothing to YOU doesn't mean it's okay for people to go around setting fire to private property. I seriously doubt he will spend even close to 20 years in prison. Hopefully, though, all three of these people will learn they can't just do whatever they feel like when the mood takes them without any regard for other people.
By KnowingHer
Jun 30, 2009 7:38 PM | Link to this
I know the little girl that was thrown. She and her sister are my goddaughters. I hope that fat ***** rots in hell personally. She deserves the worst they can give her in my opinion.
By KnowingHer
Jun 30, 2009 7:37 PM | Link to this
I know the little girl that was thrown. She and her sister are my goddaughters. I hope that fat ***** rots in hell personally. She deserves the worst they can give her in my opinion.
By Taco
Jun 30, 2009 7:25 PM | Link to this
Tammy Lou Beckett needs to be locked up for a long time, 10month old eat your animal cracker?
Glad she is not on the streets......leave it at that..
By Appalled
Jun 30, 2009 6:16 PM | Link to this
People like Beckett really make me sick. She regrets it with all her heart???? Is this supposed to make the parents feel better knowing that she permanently damaged this child?? Why did it have to happen in the first place? I have two children and for the life of me I can't imagine ANYTHING that would make me do such a thing. This BABY was 10 MONTHS OLD!!!!! I feel for the other child in her care also, this had to be terrifying. My heart and prayers go out to this family, they have a long road ahead of them.
By another concerned citizen
Jun 30, 2009 4:58 PM | Link to this
OK people. Let's do this-if the judge lets the lady off easy that THREW the baby 20 FEET then let's just vote him out next time. People in prison don't put up with people like her. The hardest criminals that deal drugs, shoot drug dealers, rape women DO NOT put up with people that rape old people or kids, or those that hurt them like she did. The minimum she gets should be 25 yrs. but their excuse is that the prisons are getting overcrowded. Weeelllll-let's start giving the people that get the death penalty just that-DEATH. They should have 5 yrs. for their appeals and when its over, it's over, they're done, execute and move on. Then there would be room for her and the others like her. Arson gets 20, give her minimum 25 which would make her actual sentence, what 50?
By El Diablo
Jun 30, 2009 4:31 PM | Link to this
The DA isn't alone in blame. It's the whole damn system.
Lawyers make their money from return customers, the DA's office benefits from making things look good on paper, and judges are kissing both sides on the butt for political support.
But it's easy to dump blame on the DA. Keep on believing in Santa and the Tooth Fairy too.
What's the line from that song??? "Meet the new boss...same as the old boss." The next DA will do the same old song and dance.
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