Suspected gang member gets 28 years

A man involved in a 2006 gang-related shooting was sentenced to 28 years in prison Monday in Waynesboro Circuit Court.
In handing down the sentence to Rashame Washington, Judge Humes J. Franklin said he could not condone gang activity, or the use of firearms in the commission of crimes.
“This young man bothers me in a lot of aspects,” Franklin said.
Addressing Washington, Franklin said, “I don’t think you’ve accepted your responsibility. On the other hand, I don’t think you’ve had any kind of chance.”
Given a chance to testify at the sentencing hearing, Washington said, “It’s crazy, because I ain’t got nothing to do with it.”
Psychologist Joseph Conley of Lynchburg testified that Washington’s IQ was in the 60s to 70s, putting him in the lowest five percent of the population. Washington, he said, had a “severe cognitive dysfunction.”
Reading Conley’s report, Franklin said, “This whole report is a prescription for a catastrophe, isn’t it?” The report stated that Washington has trouble adapting to any social environment.
In addition to having been suspended more than 20 times as a student at Waynesboro High School, Washington has been put in segregation while in jail four or five times for losing his temper, according to the report.
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Thomas Weidner told Franklin that the shooting “was not spontaneous.”
“It was a cold-blooded plan to kill and it was lucky no one was killed,” Weidner said.
Weidner said in court that had Washington showed remorse, he would have recommended a lighter sentence.
Two other men – Bloods members Brandon Clark and Jordan Strickland – previously pleaded guilty to their involvement in the Nov. 25, 2006, shootings at the South Winchester Street apartment, with each receiving 43-year prison sentences. Sudana Wilmott, 18, of Staunton, pleaded guilty to her involvement in exchange for a three-year prison term. She was 17 at the time.
Washington received a 40-year sentence, with 35 years suspended, for a malicious wounding charge in shooting James O’Brien, and received the same sentence for shooting a juvenile. O’Brien was shot four to five times, with a bullet going through him and hitting another person.
Washington also received a combined eight years for using a gun in the commission of a felony. He received a 10-year sentence, with five years suspended, for being a street gang crime participant, and another 40-year sentence, with 35 years suspended, for breaking and entering while armed at night.
Once released, Washington faces four years of probation.
Ten Waynesboro police officers and sheriff’s deputies were in the courtroom during the hearing, and had to lead out family members following the sentence.
Upon the reading of the sentence, a woman shouted, “You all are liars. He was never in a gang.” A bailiff was also needed to escort Washington’s attorney, Chester Francis, to his car.
Weidner said after the hearing he was pleased with the judge’s recent rulings, saying it’s had a positive effect on curbing gang activity.
“It’s really knocked the gang activity back,” Weidner said.