Teen Turns Down 25-Year Prison Offer, Laughs in Court as He Is Sentenced to 65 Years in Murder Case

An Alabama teen who had turned down a 25-year sentence in a plea deal laughed and smiled in court on Thursday as he was sentenced to 65 years in prison for felony murder and other charges.

The judge even overheard Lakeith Smith saying “I don’t have time for this” as he was waiting for his case to be called, according to WECT.

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“You just don’t get it do you?” Reynolds said, according to WECT. “He hasn’t said I’m sorry yet. He hasn’t acknowledged to this court that he shouldn’t have done, shouldn’t have come around, in fact, his attitude toward this court and life, in general, has been sour.”

Smith was one of four suspects charged in the death of accomplice A’Donte Washington, who was fatally shot by police. All four were charged with felony murder in connection to the state’s accomplice liability law, according to WECT.

The five suspects had broken into two homes in Millbrook in February of 2015, according to the Montgomery Advertiser, when they were confronted and chased by police. Washington, who was 16, had pointed his gun at an officer when he was shot, according to the Advertiser.

The 19-year-old Smith was the only one not to plead guilty, turning down an offer of 25 years.

“I don’t think Mr. Smith will be smiling long when he gets to prison,” chief assistant district attorney C.J. Robinson told the Advertiser. “We are very pleased with this sentence. Because the sentences are consecutive, it will be a long time before he comes up for even the possibility for parole, at least 20 to 25 years.”

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Lakeith Smith