Three men convicted on multiple charges of armed robbery and aggravated assault were sentenced Thursday to more than a decade in prison.
Cousins Raimone K. Boynton, 23, and Richard S. Boynton, 19; and Ladarious Colbert, 19, were convicted Wednesday after about five hours of deliberation, said Assistant District Attorney David Helmick. All three appeared before Muscogee County Superior Court Chief Judge John Allen on Thursday for their sentencing hearing.
Raimone Boynton was sentenced to life in prison — a sentence Allen said was required because of a former conviction. Richard Boynton was sentenced to 25 years. Colbert was sentenced to 13 years, followed by 12 years’ probation.
“These armed robberies are an epidemic in our community,” Helmick told the judge. “These defendants, your honor, don’t think they feel this is very serious. We saw them laughing and joking, cutting up all throughout the trial. We ask the court to show them the same mercy they showed their victims.”
The men were convicted after an eight-day trial that involved some 25 witnesses, Helmick said. They were convicted of a series of armed robberies, aggravated assaults, weapons charges and other counts that occurred between Aug. 23, 2008, and Nov. 23, 2008.
Both Boyntons were acquitted of one count of aggravated assault.
A number of people spoke in support of the defendants before Allen sentenced them, including Richard Boynton. He apologized to the victims in the case, but maintained his innocence.
“It wasn’t us,” he said. “I was in college. I was working. I had my own stuff. I wasn’t even in town.”
Richard Boynton’s mother told Allen that her son was one of six children.
“He tried to get into the military,” she said. “He passed the test with high honors. My son is not a monster. I’ve known him all my life. He’s a smart kid.”
Helmick described Richard Boynton as a monster who abuses people for fun and then brags about it.
Raimone Boynton’s mother reminded Allen that Helmick described her son as a follower and said he had a 2-year-old son of his own. Allen told her he had no alternative but to sentence him to life in prison.
“May the Lord have mercy on the whole courtroom,” she said.
Defense attorney Michael Garner, who represents Colbert, told the judge that his client was involved in only two incidents. Garner asked that Colbert be considered in a different light from those he said planned and executed the crimes.
As Raimone Boynton was led from the courtroom with the other defendants, he shouted to his supporters, “I love ya, ma.”
A woman replied, “It ain’t over.”
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