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Teenager admits his role in death
By CHRIS TISCH, Times Staff Writer
LARGO -- One of two teens charged with murder in the death of a 63-year-old man last spring has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and might testify against the other teen. Charlie McDuffy was 14 when Largo police charged him with having a hand in killing Charles Carroll. Police said McDuffy and Richard Washington, who was 16 at the time, robbed Carroll on a Largo street the night of May 9. Washington then pushed Carroll to the ground, breaking his neck. Carroll died 20 days later. A grand jury indicted both boys, who are from Clearwater, as adults on charges of first-degree murder. The boys were charged under the state's felony murder law, which allows for defendants to be charged with first-degree murder if a death occurs during the commission of certain felonies, including robbery. McDuffy's attorney, Doug Prior, said it became apparent to him that Washington instigated the robbery. Though McDuffy knew Washington was planning to rob Carroll, he did not use any force himself. "Charlie was aware that Washington intended on taking the guy's money," Prior said. "He didn't know how he was going to do it. He probably envisioned that there was going to be some degree of force." Washington, now 17, could go to trial as soon as next week. His attorney has made a motion to suppress evidence in the case. Police said Washington admitted to them that he pushed Carroll. After pleading guilty to manslaughter and robbery charges Wednesday, McDuffy was sentenced to 10 years in prison, though five years of that time will be suspended. He also will receive credit for 272 days he already has served in juvenile detention and jail after his arrest. His sentence will be followed by five years of probation. A hearing to determine restitution is scheduled for April 10. If convicted of first-degree murder, McDuffy could have faced a life prison term. "I think it's a fair disposition," Prior said. Prior said McDuffy turned 15 in the Pinellas County Jail, where he was held in a wing for youthful defendants. Though he will be transferred to an adult prison, he will continue to be housed with other youths, Prior said. Even with good behavior, McDuffy probably will turn 18 in prison. He was a ninth-grader at Pinellas Marine Institute before his arrest. Prosecutor Joe Walker declined to comment on the case Thursday, but Prior said McDuffy has provided a statement to prosecutors and could testify against Washington. "If called upon to testify, he will testify truthfully," Prior said. Carroll, a carpenter and apartment manager from Largo, told police that the boys stole his motorized tricycle, his cigarettes, his wallet and his cell phone. He said the boys had pushed him down, hurting his neck. Days later, he was unresponsive at Largo Medical Center. Complications ensued, and he died 20 days after the robbery. When police Detective Joe Coyle took a look at Carroll's cell phone records, he noticed the phone had been used while Carroll lay on his deathbed. Tracking down addresses from the numbers called on the phone -- one to McDuffy's home 25 minutes after the robbery -- detectives learned Washington and McDuffy had stolen the phone. Washington then admitted his role to police, and McDuffy verified his story, police said. -- Chris Tisch can be reached at 445-4156 or tisch@sptimes.com .
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From the Times North Pinellas desks |
