1 teen waives hearing, 1 admits role in attacks

11/22/2000

Paris Jamison

One of the teenagers charged with beating a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier waived his right to an evidentiary hearing yesterday in Lucas County Juvenile Court, and another teenager charged with assaulting a man shortly after the letter carrier attack admitted his role in the incident.

Kenneth Britton, 16, of Maplewood Avenue, will face a second hearing to determine whether he will be tried as an adult in the beating Sept. 26 of letter carrier Sam Burzynski, 53, in the Brand Whitlock Homes.

The date for the second hearing in Juvenile Court has not been set. A series of psychological tests will be conducted and a social history will be gathered before that hearing occurs.

“We have nothing to gain by putting either victim through a hearing at this point,” Mr. Wingate said.

Ron Wingate, young Britton's attorney, said his client waived the first hearing because he was “honest and candid with the police on his involvement” in both assaults.

Judge James Ray in Lucas County Juvenile Court found Deshawn Snow, 17, of Erie Street, delinquent of aggravated riot in the Bush Street assault on Brian Dotson, 28. Young Snow was not charged in the attack on the letter carrier.

Five teens were charged in the assault on Mr. Dotson. Two of them were charged in the beating of Mr. Burzynski.

Young Snow originally was charged with delinquency in connection with robbery, but the charges were amended and the case will be kept in Juvenile Court.

“I think it's an appropriate result based upon the minimal participation on Deshawn's part,” said Arnold N. Gottlieb, young Snow's attorney.

Prosecutors asked that young Britton, Snow, and Paris Jamison, 16, of Anglebrook Court, be tried as adults in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Denise Cubbon, a prosecutor in the juvenile division of Common Pleas Court, asked for the motion to be dismissed in young Snow's case because he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge. She said young Snow cooperated with police.

The same motion was granted for young Jamison during a hearing last week. His sentencing hearing was continued from yesterday to sometime before Dec. 4.

All three boys are being held in the Child Study Institute.

Also charged in the letter carrier beating was Terrance Belle, 18, of Bronson Avenue. He and Michael Gilbert, 18, of Ashwood Avenue, were charged in the assault on Mr. Dotson. They are being held in the Lucas County jail awaiting hearings in Common Pleas Court.