An Augusta man who was on probation when he allegedly shot a man who is now paralyzed from the waist down was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison.
Judge Ashley Wright revoked five years of Dante Phillips’ probation sentence he had been serving for drug crimes.
On Wednesday, Sept. 7, in Richmond County Superior Court, Phillips admitted to most of his failings while on probation – repeated drug use and inability to complete a rehab program and the aggravated assault. But he denied the misdemeanor and felony charges of family violence he still faces.
The shooting occurred May 9 and was caught on video, said Assistant District Attorney Stetson Cromer.
Phillips, 27, understands that he messed up and going to go to prison, said defense attorney Kara Stangl, but she asked the judge not to revoke him in full, which would have been nearly eight years.
While Wright agreed Phillips should get some credit for taking responsibility, his repeated violent episodes cannot be tolerated. Sooner or later, someone will die, she said.
“And I think we are all sick of death. Violence cannot be a way of life. It should not be a component of everyday life,” Wright said.
Phillips will still face the new charges in two cases – the aggravated assault and other charges in connection with the shooting that left a man paralyzed and the kidnapping and battery charges for a May 18 incident.
Sandy Hodson is a staff reporter covering courts for The Augusta Press. Reach her at sandy@theaugustapress.com.
