Detroit Judge Tells Defendant He Needed Beating During Sentencing

By Sami K. Martin, Christian Post Reporter Friday, July 18, 2014

Family members of Steve Utash watch from the back of the courtroom during the preliminary examination of co-defendants Latrez Cummings (R), James Davis and Wonzy Saffold in the beating of motorist Steve Utash after he accidentally struck and injured a child with his truck in Detroit, Michigan April 21, 2014. | (Photo: Reuters/Rebecca Cook)

A Detroit judge is receiving heat after telling a young defendant he needed a beating from a father Thursday. Latrez Cummings, 19, was sentenced to six months in jail and three years' probation for the mob beating of a motorist.

"You needed someone to discipline you," Judge James Callahan told Cummings. "Someone to beat the hell out of you when you made a mistake, as opposed to allowing you or encouraging you to do it to somebody else."

Cummings pleaded guilty, along with four other young persons, to assaulting Steve Utash. The group attacked him when he got out of his truck to help a 10-year-old boy who stepped in front of his vehicle. Utash was left in a coma for several days after the attack in April but recovered.

Assistant prosecutor Lisa Lindsay angered the judge by saying that his sentence was too light and that there were numerous young black men who were raised without a father but didn't commit crimes. The judge quickly responded and defended himself.

"That is no excuse judge, that is setting a low bar. There are plenty of young black males who live in the city of Detroit who are raised by a single mother who do not, I repeat, do not engage in criminal activity," Lindsay said.

"Did I ever use the term 'black'? It doesn't matter if a person is black, white, yellow, or red," Callahan responded.

Lindsay had asked Judge Callahan for a one-to-three year sentence for Cummings, and she has filed a motion to have Cummings resentenced. She has also appealing the sentence of James Davis, 24, who participated in the assault and was sentenced to one year in jail and five years' probation. Lindsay said it falls below sentencing guidelines.

The two other defendants, Wonzey Saffold, 30, and Bruce Wimbush, 18, were sentenced earlier this month. Saffold received a prison term of 6 years and 4 months to up to 10 years. Wimbush received three years' probation under a youth offender program. They both pleaded guilty to assault charges.

"Effective discipline" is crucial to raising children, but "violence is never the answer" James Hmurovich, president of Chicago-based Prevent Child Abuse America told the Associated Press.

Cummings apologized to Utash and his family as they sat in the courtroom.