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Gunman recoils at 2_year term | The Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Gunman recoils at 2-year term
Rebecca S. Green
The Journal Gazette
Carleon Ragsdale was hoping for probation, anything but prison.
So when Allen Superior Judge Fran Gull sentenced him to two years behind bars for waving a gun around at a downtown bus stop in May – a move that got him shot by police – Ragsdale didn’t even try to hide his disappointment.
“I was told I’d get probation,” he said when Gull asked him Monday whether he wanted to appeal his sentence. “That’s the only reason I pleaded guilty.”
The 23-year-old Ragsdale pleaded guilty in October to criminal recklessness, resisting law enforcement and possession of a firearm by a domestic batterer, but the length of any prison sentence was left solely up to the judge.
On May 6, police responded to Citilink’s Superior Street bus terminal on a report of someone armed with a handgun. When officers approached Ragsdale, he fled, pulling out a handgun and pointing it upside down at the officers as he ran.
Officers repeatedly told him to drop his gun. While he was running across Superior Street, Ragsdale was shot. He then threw the gun and collapsed, according to police and court documents.
Before sentencing Monday, Ragsdale admitted to the judge his behavior was wrong, calling it “stupid, childish stuff.”
He told her he wanted to be a better father to his two children and intended to better himself so he could be a better example.
Then Gull sentenced him to two years on each of the first two charges and one year on the third, ordering all to be served at the same time.
Almost immediately, even as Gull continued speaking, Ragsdale began exhibiting signs of irritation – shaking his head and sighing.
When she asked him whether he wanted to appeal his sentence, Ragsdale let loose, blaming his attorney for making promises to him.
“I musta been coerced or something,” Ragsdale said.
His attorney, Don Swanson, told the court he informed Ragsdale he may receive probation, but said a juvenile charge of arson, which would have been a Class B felony if Ragsdale had been an adult, made prison likely. The juvenile charge was revealed during the presentence investigation.
Gull appointed Swanson to handle the appeal and bailiffs quickly moved to get the still-mumbling Ragsdale out of the courtroom.
Mods. , if this is in the wrong section please move it , thanks .
Gunman recoils at 2-year term
Rebecca S. Green
The Journal Gazette
Carleon Ragsdale was hoping for probation, anything but prison.
So when Allen Superior Judge Fran Gull sentenced him to two years behind bars for waving a gun around at a downtown bus stop in May – a move that got him shot by police – Ragsdale didn’t even try to hide his disappointment.
“I was told I’d get probation,” he said when Gull asked him Monday whether he wanted to appeal his sentence. “That’s the only reason I pleaded guilty.”
The 23-year-old Ragsdale pleaded guilty in October to criminal recklessness, resisting law enforcement and possession of a firearm by a domestic batterer, but the length of any prison sentence was left solely up to the judge.
On May 6, police responded to Citilink’s Superior Street bus terminal on a report of someone armed with a handgun. When officers approached Ragsdale, he fled, pulling out a handgun and pointing it upside down at the officers as he ran.
Officers repeatedly told him to drop his gun. While he was running across Superior Street, Ragsdale was shot. He then threw the gun and collapsed, according to police and court documents.
Before sentencing Monday, Ragsdale admitted to the judge his behavior was wrong, calling it “stupid, childish stuff.”
He told her he wanted to be a better father to his two children and intended to better himself so he could be a better example.
Then Gull sentenced him to two years on each of the first two charges and one year on the third, ordering all to be served at the same time.
Almost immediately, even as Gull continued speaking, Ragsdale began exhibiting signs of irritation – shaking his head and sighing.
When she asked him whether he wanted to appeal his sentence, Ragsdale let loose, blaming his attorney for making promises to him.
“I musta been coerced or something,” Ragsdale said.
His attorney, Don Swanson, told the court he informed Ragsdale he may receive probation, but said a juvenile charge of arson, which would have been a Class B felony if Ragsdale had been an adult, made prison likely. The juvenile charge was revealed during the presentence investigation.
Gull appointed Swanson to handle the appeal and bailiffs quickly moved to get the still-mumbling Ragsdale out of the courtroom.
Mods. , if this is in the wrong section please move it , thanks .
