Page 8 - Florida Sentinel 2-10-17

Local
Mom Upset:
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
A Tampa man pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 8 years of proba- tion in criminal court on Mon- day. The mother of the victim feels that justice was not served in this case.
On April 8, 2015, Jerrod Tyrone Coachman, Jr., was riding a dirt bike near the inter- section of Cord Street and E. 21st Avenue when he was shot in the head. At the time of the shooting, Coachman, 22, identified the person who shot him. Tampa Police arrested Ty- darrious Kirkland, then 20, 2 days later and charged him with aggravated battery with a firearm.
Coachman was trans- ported to a local hospital, where he was admitted in critical con- dition. He was taken off life support and died on April 15, 2015.
Kirkland was charged with second-degree murder in July 2015.
On Monday, he was allowed to plead guilty to manslaughter. The judge, Kimberly Fer- nandez sentenced him to 8 years of probation.
Lunch With President Trump At MacDill AFB
This young lady with Special Forces at Central Command (CentCom) at MacDill Air Force Base was among military per- sonnel who sat with President Donald Trump when he visited the base on Monday, February 6th. She is the member of a prominent Tampa family. (Tampa Bay Times Photo)
Retires After 30 Years
Marie C. Russell retired from her position with the fed- eral government after 30 years.
Family and friends joined her T Grand Rio in Ybor City for the retirement celebration. (Photos by Julia Jackson)
Marie C. Russell, honoree, 2nd from left, with Rita Cole- man, Danette Carson and Traci Carson.
Man Who Killed Her Son Given 8 Years Probation
JERROD COACHMAN, JR. ... Died April 15, 2015 after being shot
Coachman’s mother, Ms. Rhonda Oglesby, was in court when the sentencing was handed down. She made the following statement: “Justice was not served. My son identi- fied the person who shot him and that didn’t mean anything. I’m not asking to replace my son’s life for his life. I forgive him and I told him that.
“He just looked me in my face and didn’t say a word. I just want the public to know that he’s out and he thinks he can’t be touched.”
Ms. Oglesby said wit- nesses in the case changed their stories and that Kirkland had been telling people that he was going to get out.
When contacted by the Sentinel, Mrs. Rena J. Fra-
TYDARRIOUS KIRKLAND ... Sentenced to 8 years
of probation
zier, spokesperson for the Hillsborough County State At- torney’s Office said in a written statement, “Part of our goal at the State Attorney’s Office is to make our community safer and seek justice on behalf of the vic- tim and the victim’s family. Our job is complicated when we have witnesses reluctant to co- operate or come forward in a “no snitch” culture. We under- stand Ms. Oglesby’s pain and share in her frustration.
“In this case, we fought for and obtained a felony convic- tion against the defendant and a lengthy probation with strict conditions so that law enforce- ment can monitor his actions for a long time and make sure that he no longer poses a threat to our community.”
NeDine Wellson and CaRine Davis-Miller.
Alta R. Marshall was at the retirement celebration.
Monroe MacQuinn was also among the gathering.
PAGE 8-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017