The District teen who pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder of Shaw Middle School principal Brian Betts received a life sentence with all but 40 years suspended.
Alante Saunders, 19, was sentenced by Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge John Debelius III, who accepted Saunders’ plea on Nov. 8 in the shooting death of Brian Betts in his Silver Spring home.
Saunders was one of four men involved in the planned robbery of Betts, whom they met on an Internet sex chat site. They set up a meeting for April 14, during which Saunders said a struggle broke out and the handgun he was holding went off, killing Betts.
Saunders acknowledged his actions in court Tuesday in Rockville, saying it was “truly an accident” that occurred during an attempt to steal money to buy drugs.
“Drugs was the powerful force,” Saunders said. “I accept my responsibilities, and I apologize.”
Before the sentencing, the judge allowed the reading of eight victim impact statements from family, friends and co-workers.
Jennifer Altomare, Betts’ sister, read a narrative to the court, in which she explained several lessons she had learned since her brother’s death. They included that “wiping up your brother’s blood on his bedroom floor will haunt you the rest of your life.”
Gloria Allred, an attorney representing the Betts family, said they believe an investigation should be opened to determine whether Betts’ death should also be prosecuted under the Matthew Shepard federal hate crime law because Betts was a gay man.
Saunders and one of the other teens charged with Betts’ slaying, Sharif “Reef” Lancaster, had each been committed to the custody of the city’s Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services after years of arrests, District records show.
Saunders had fled the agency’s custody April 1, less than two weeks before he killed Betts.
Betts’ death shined a spotlight on gaping problems with the District’s juvenile justice system that let juveniles with violent histories, such as Saunders, walk away from their boarding houses with impunity.
Saunders will be eligible for parole in 20 years. Lancaster’s trial is scheduled to begin Monday.
