A man faces only five years in prison for shooting his longtime friend six times at close range — a sentence that left the victim’s family devastated Wednesday over a what they see as a failed justice system.
“As long as our judges and lawyers are only interested in putting dangerous people back on the streets, violence will continue,” said Philip Rousseaux Sr., 62, whose son Michel Rousseaux, 28, of Severna Park, was shot to death Nov. 4, 2005.
“Young man, may God have mercy on your soul,” he said turning to the killer, Todd Alan Poorman, 29, of Glen Burnie, who said he acted in self-defense.
As part of a plea agreement with the state, Poorman entered an Alford plea to manslaughter in August, in which he maintains his innocence but concedes enough evidence exists to convict him.
Anne Arundel Circuit Judge Philip Caroom accepted the agreement and sentenced Poorman on Wednesday to 10 years in prison with all but five years suspended.
Caroom urged the Rousseaux family to address the legislature with complaints over the unfairness of the law.
“This court is not a legislature, we don’t make the law as we think it should be, we apply it as it is today,” he said.
Prosecutors initially charged Poorman with second-degree murder, but a judge threw out the charge this past year during a jury trial.
The jury then convicted Poorman of manslaughter, but the judge tossed the manslaughter verdict because the prosecutor prejudiced the jury during closing arguments.
After a retrial was granted, the prosecutor eventually offered Poorman a plea agreement.
Sheila Rousseaux, 60, who is Rousseaux’s mother, said she feels slighted by the system and the painful experience has prompted her to get involved in legislation.
“It would be easy for me to walk away today with only Mike’s memories, but I refuse to back away from this state’s flawed and liberal judicial system toward criminals,” she said.
“I’m going to focus my energy on helping other people who face what I have faced … I’m not a vengeful person. I just want justice.”
She noted that her family even had to fight for their right to address the court before sentencing Wednesday.
Defense attorney John Robinson had argued that state law allows only one family member be permitted to speak, but Caroom chose to hear from Rousseaux’s parents and siblings.
“Mike was a tenacious, selfless and caring friend,” said his brother Philip Rousseaux Jr., 33.
Nicole Rousseaux, 28, said her brother was the “glue” holding the family together.
The Rousseaux family also chastised Poorman for not taking responsibility.
Poorman’s family and friends cried throughout the sentencing and maintained that he acted in self-defense.
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