Dei’Vante McFadden was the kind of young man who stayed out of trouble and worked hard for what he had, like the watch he was wearing the night of Jan. 12, 2020.
It was just a watch, and McFadden, 21, would likely have given it to the four young people who decided to rob him, his mother said Thursday, Feb. 3 as two of the people involved her son’s death were sentenced to prison for murder.
Last week, a Richmond County Superior Court jury convicted Carlos Mack, 21, and Rian Stone 19, of murder in the death of McFadden on Winston Way.
“It breaks my heart,” Dei-Lewon McFadden said. ‘I’ll never hear him say ‘I love you,’ again.’”
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She had always believed in the goodness of others, but after what happened to her son, and hearing of Stone’s history of criminal acts, maybe she was wrong. Young people have no respect or fear of the criminal justice system, McFadden said.
The evidence in the case indicated Stone was the one who shot McFadden. He was only 17 years old at the time, but he had already rung up 16 passes through juvenile court, said Assistant District Attorney Jarryd Brown.
Stone is an active member of the Bloods gang was working to be promoted into the Loyalty Over Everything gang. He was setting up contacts in prison, Brown said. While awaiting trial, he was allegedly one of five jail inmates who attacked another man. He is wanted in Jenkins County where investigators believed he robbed and shot a man who was left for dead but who lived, Brown said.
Judge John Flythe, who presided over the murder trial, sentenced Stone to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Stone left the courtroom without even turning to look at his family who had come to court to speak on his behalf.
Carlos Mack stood before the judge in a different posture because the jury didn’t convict him of the same crimes as Stone, defense attorney Tanya Jeffords said Thursday. It was a sad and emotional day, to see the destruction of young people lives.
“There is no excuse for it,” she said.
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But Mack was different from Stone. He was remorseful for what happened, he didn’t want to give up on trying to be a better person, to try to make amends for what he did.
After the jury convicted Mack, Jeffords went to the jail to see him.
“He said, ‘Maybe that message will make a difference,’” Jeffords said.
“I apologize to the family,” Mack said. “I’m sorry for y’all’s loss. I’m sorry to my family, too. That’s it,” Mack said when given the opportunity to speak.
Flythe sentenced Mack to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
Janiah Sullivan, who turns 17 next week, pleaded guilty to criminal attempt to commit armed robbery. She was sentenced on Dec. 31 to 15 years in prison followed by 15 years on probation.
The fourth person who took part in McFadden’s death, Ebonee Jones, 22, has also pleaded guilty to criminal attempt to commit armed robbery. She has not been sentenced yet.
Sandy Hodson is a staff reporter covering courts for The Augusta Press. Reach her at sandy@theaugustapress.com.
