A Virginia man with a prior hate crime conviction has been sentenced to almost 30 years in prison for the fatal beating of an 80-year-old black man in a wheelchair.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports 44-year-old Michael Kevin McReynolds received his murder sentence Tuesday for killing Johnny Battle last year.
Prosecutor Andy Johnson said McReynolds had a dozen prior convictions for drug and gun possession and assaults. He also was convicted of a 2003 hate crime for hurling beer bottles and racial slurs at an Asian man.
Battle’s girlfriend, Regatha Pair, testified that McReynolds called Battle the N-word before killing him.
McReynolds reportedly apologized to Battle’s family during sentencing. His lawyer, Christopher Bradshaw, said McReynolds was not in his right mind and suffered from PTSD from his time as a sniper.
2 comments
I think people who do these things should get the death penalty. Their brains are no good, never will be.
Death would be too quick…He will hate prison…with guards he can not bribe and black men who are not afraid of this bully