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Teen gets six years for role in crime rampage
By CHRISTOPHER GOFFARD © St. Petersburg Times, published August 16, 2000 NEW PORT RICHEY -- The second of four suspected members of the so-called West Pasco Crazy Crips has been sentenced to state prison for a bloody rampage across Hudson last year that sent two people to the hospital. Elijah Horner, 18, pleaded no contest Tuesday to charges ranging from robbery to aggravated battery, and Circuit Judge Craig C. Villanti sentenced him to six years in prison followed by four years of probation. The March 15, 1999, rampage began, police say, when Horner and his companions attacked a man who wouldn't buy them beer at a Circle K, then stole his wallet and beer. At a Lil' Champ down the road, they cursed at a woman who was shopping there, then beat her husband, who soon suffered a heart attack and had to be revived by electric shock, police say. Later that night, authorities say, Horner and fellow gang member Dusty Stamer also beat a man in the woods so badly he was found at the side of the road, semiconscious, with a sliced face and chest, broken teeth, a bleeding head and a concussion. Horner faced counts of robbery, attempted robbery, aggravated battery, simple battery and attempted murder, but the attempted murder charge was reduced to felony battery with his no-contest plea. If Horner had chosen to stand trial on the original charges, he could have faced life in prison if convicted, said Assistant State Attorney Brian Mulligan. Sam Williams, Horner's lawyer, said he spoke at length with his client about whether to plead to the counts. "I told him we could probably win a few of them, but all it takes is one, and you're looking at 10 to 15 years in prison," Williams said. "He just wanted to get on with his life and atone for what he'd done." Richard Thibodeau, 18, was sentenced in February to 10 years in prison for his role in the attacks. Ryan Sullivan, 18, failed to appear for his trial last week and has a warrant out for his arrest. Dusty Stamer, 17, is awaiting trial.
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