Man Gets More Than 30 Years In Boy's Shooting Death
FLINT (WWJ/AP) - A 26-year-old Flint man convicted of second-degree murder in the 2010 shooting death of a 6-year-old boy has been sentenced to more than 30 years in prison.
DaVontrae Benton was convicted in March of killing Jonaries Holden after authorities say he fired a shot into a car during an argument with the boy's father over a $60 drug debt. The jury also found Benton guilty of four counts of assault with intent to murder and felony firearm in the Nov. 1, 2010, shooting.
The boy, who was sitting in the back seat, was hit once and died at local hospital. His twin brother, Quinares Holden, and a 2-year-old child were also in the car but were not hurt.
Benton was sentenced Thursday to 31 years and 3 months to 50 years in prison. The Flint Journal reports the boy's eighth birthday would have been Friday.
Benton was apologetic during the hearing, saying a "frivolous argument" led to the death of the child.
"I thought I was a good, overprotective mother," said the boy's mother, Marchand Williams. "We hear shootings every day. But I thought violence would affect people doing the violence, not my innocent baby."
TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
