A waste for now

Lionel Tate has been sentenced to 30 years in jail. I blogged about Tate before here.

FORT LAUDERDALE – A Broward judge on Thursday sentenced Lionel Tate to 30 years in prison for violating his probation by possessing a gun, the latest twist in a case of a teenager convicted of murdering a 6-year-old girl in what his attorneys initially claimed was a botched wrestling move.

In sentencing the 19-year-old, acting Circuit Judge Joel Lazarus told the youth: "In plain English, Lionel Tate, you've run out of chances."

Tate was allowed to withdraw an earlier plea in a case alleging he robbed a pizza deliveryman in May 2005. Trial was scheduled for Sept. 18 in that case. If convicted as charged, Tate could face life in prison.

Tate was 12 years old when he became the youngest person in modern U.S. history to receive a life sentence in the 1999 beating death of Tiffany Eunick.

His murder conviction was overturned by an appeals court in 2004 after the panel found it wasn't clear whether Tate understood the charges. He was freed from prison under a deal in which he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 10 years' probation.

Under the latest charge, Tate had faced between 10 and 30 years in prison for violating his probation by having a gun and allegedly robbing a pizza delivery man.

I agree with Judge Lazarus, Tate has run out of chances. He's a danger to himself and others and needs to do time for he has done. Tate has no one to blame but himself.

LaShawn Barber also blames Tate for his current status. She also prays for Tate in hopes God will save this young man. I second that idea. We can only hope Tate can find God also and make something of his life.

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