Philadelphia Teen Gets Prison Term In Fatal Attack On Pizza Deliveryman
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The oldest of a group of Philadelphia teenagers who confronted a pizza deliveryman, leading to his death by heart attack, has been sentenced.
Judge Benjamin Lerner told 19-year-old Rasheed Caesar that the incident last year was not unlike the flash mob mentality of recent weeks: whether thugs or otherwise good people caught up in the moment, all are responsible for the unintended consequences of their actions.
Then, the judge sentenced Caesar to at least 3-6 years behind bars.
Caesar admitted calling in the fake order to a West Oak Lane pizza shop in January of 2010, with the intention of snatching it without paying.
But one of the three younger boys threatened and chased the victim. Deliveryman Jamie Orozco-Torres, 60, died of a heart attack (see previous story).
Three juveniles were previously convicted in Family Court in connection with the incident.
Assistant district attorney Leon Goodman said today that while the three younger teens were more culpable in causing the stress which resulted in death, Judge Lerner fashioned a sentence that would put Caesar before the state parole board after serving the minimum.
"When Mr. Caesar reaches three years, with credit for time served, then he be eligible for parole," Goodman said.
The three juveniles each received two-year sentences but will be under the jurisdiction of Judge Kevin Dougherty until they are 21.
Reported by Steve Tawa, KYW Newsradio 1060
