Posted 9:40 am Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Kilgore Man Sentenced To 50 Years For Aggravated Assault
By MALENA OGLES
Staff Writer
A 28-year-old Kilgore man convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon was sentenced Monday to 50 years in prison.
Staff Writer
A 28-year-old Kilgore man convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon was sentenced Monday to 50 years in prison.
Robert "Smooth" Albert Mitchell was found guilty by a jury May 13 after 10 minutes of deliberation for the July 15, 2008, shooting Ricky "Dog" Steddum.
Assistant Smith County district attorney Richard Vance said during the sentencing hearing in 7th District Judge Kerry Russell's court that Mitchell's actions that night warrants giving him a life sentence.
Assistant Smith County district attorney Richard Vance said during the sentencing hearing in 7th District Judge Kerry Russell's court that Mitchell's actions that night warrants giving him a life sentence.
"What you have out there is two of the worst things you can imagine. A dope dealer and a man trying to kill another man," Vance said adding that Mitchell has a lengthy criminal history including misdemeanor felonies.
"He is a textbook violent dope dealer," he said.
Smith County Sheriff Detective James Riggle testified during the hearing that during a search of Mitchell's home, officers found .45 caliber handgun, ammunition, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and copies of High Times magazine, including "The Stoner's Swimsuit Special."
Defense attorney John Jarvis said Mitchell's actions do not warrant a life sentence.
"This was a drug deal gone bad," he said.
Steddum testified May 13 he and his wife were sleeping at their house on County Road 3111 when his wife heard someone in their yard and he went onto the porch to see who it was. He said he saw a gold car and a silver car but couldn't see the people around them because it was too dark. He asked them to leave and went back inside but returned to his porch a few minutes later because they were still there.
Steddum testified May 13 he and his wife were sleeping at their house on County Road 3111 when his wife heard someone in their yard and he went onto the porch to see who it was. He said he saw a gold car and a silver car but couldn't see the people around them because it was too dark. He asked them to leave and went back inside but returned to his porch a few minutes later because they were still there.
Steddum said he suspected they were making a drug deal and he asked them to leave again and he heard a man said, "It's Smooth."
Steddum said he told them he didn't care who it was and told them to leave again and used a profanity. Then, as Steddum was standing in his doorway unarmed, the man began shooting at him, he said. He shut the door and they called 911, he said.
Steddum was shot in the right outer thigh and was taken to the hospital by ambulance.
Russell also assessed a $10,000 fine and said ordered Mitchell to pay $10,305 in restitution.
Staff Writer Casey Knaupp contributed to this report.
