Both pled to robbery with a dangerous and Martin also pled to a count of felony breaking and entering involving the theft of $10,000 worth of firearms on Jackson Street.
One of the guns stolen, Assistant District Attorney Kanter Morris told Cole, was a pre-World War II revolver.
The victim in the Madison Street shooting, she said, described being shot by Williams with a “funny looking weapon.”
There were also photos discovered of Martin holding the weapon, she said, as well as messages between Martin and Williams which discussed planning a robbery.
It is believed Williams had the weapon while Martin shoved or attempted to shove the Madison Street victim down.
Martin’s lawyer, Sammy Webb, confirmed after the sentencing his client’s birthday was today.
Martin committed the crime when he was 15 but was ordered to go through the adult system in February.
Webb told the judge his client has moved back and forth between Halifax and Northampton counties with no stable home life. “Since he’s been in juvenile, he’s completed the equivalent of one full semester and is participating in activities. He’s had good peer interaction. He understands he will receive an active sentence. The evidence would have shown he tried to take the victim down and his co-defendant fired the weapon.”
Cole called Martin’s mother to sit behind the defense stand. She declined, however, when asked by the judge, if she had anything to say on her son’s behalf. “I don’t want to say anything,” she said. “I thought you wanted to ask me something.”
Sam Barnes, who represented Williams, told Cole, “He is young by our standards.”
Barnes said his client has lived his teen years without any guidance and a lack of family. “I think he is susceptible to the structures of his environment, but he is redeemable.”
Morris said authorities had a hard time finding Williams following the December shooting. “Once he was found, he did cooperate. It took six months to find him. The U.S. Marshals were looking for him. He doesn’t have a stable place within the community. Our conclusion is Mr. Martin doesn’t either.”
Martin told the judge since he has been in detention, “I’m doing well, I’m learning well. What I need to do is go to school like I want to.”
Williams asked the judge for mercy. “I chose the wrong path. I never had anyone to support me. I chose the wrong path. I want to move forward and do the right thing.”
Cole was stern with the defense attorneys. “Mr. Webb and Mr. Barnes, I’ve heard you loud and clear, but this court will not find facts of mitigation.”
In imposing the sentences, Cole also ordered Martin to pay $10,100 for the guns from the Jackson Street breaking and entering which have not been recovered.
He told the teens, “It’s hard for me to understand, it’s hard to weigh this type of case.”
He told Martin and Williams to let the sentences, “Be the first day of your new life. Obtain some type of careers so you can become successful.”
Both teens beginning to grow their hair into dreadlocks, Cole told them, “Both of you need to get a haircut. Take advantage of every little thing the department has to offer.”
For the DA’s office and the Roanoke Rapids Police Department, which investigated the case, it was a particularly trying one because of the age of the defendants.
“It was concerning to the DA’s office that this case involved such young people who committed such violent acts, especially when a gun that was stolen from one victim was used against another,” Morris said afterward. “We had to make a tough decision to represent the victims to the best of our ability.”
Captain Bobby Martin, of the police department, said, “Anytime you have someone that age involved in this type of crime, it’s a shame because we hope to see our young people thrive.”
