Houston County Teenager Sentenced To Life In Prison Without Parole

PERRY, Georgia (41 NBC/WMGT) – Jermonte Moss walked into the courtroom in handcuffs and an orange jumpsuit, directly past family and friends of Jose Marin, and then calmly took his seat with his attorney, while his own family and friends sat behind him.

Moss was convicted in Houston County Superior Court for shooting and killing store owner, Jose Marin last year. Today, Moss faced the judge to receive his sentence for his crimes.

District Attorney, George Hartwig called witnesses to the stand, to testify how the then 17 year old Moss, admitted to investigators more than once, of his involvement with a local violent gang. Hartwig called up a prior record, with Moss having several run-ins with the law, as evidence that Moss should be given life in prison, without the possibility of parole.

Moss’ defense countered that because Moss was only a 17 year old boy who got mixed up with the wrong crowd, he should be given the opportunity at parole in 30 years.

The judge ultimately declared his ruling, saying Moss will not be given a chance at parole. He stated that while in fact teenagers do make bad choices, shooting and killing a person, is something that cannot be simply overlooked.

Moss was faced with 10 different charges when he walked into the courtroom. Attorneys agreed to sentence based on just three; One count of felony murder, one count of possession of a firearm during felony murder, and carrying a stolen firearm.

Moss now faces life without parole, plus five years, based on those charges. Hartwig added, the only reason they didn’t pursue the death penalty in this case, was due to the fact that Moss was only 17 at the time of the murder, therefore he wasn’t old enough to be sentenced to death.

“To give somebody life, without the possibility of parole, at his age, I think sends a very, very strong message to the criminals, and particularly gang members in this community,” Hartwig said. “If you commit a violent crime in Houston County, particularly if you’re a member of a criminal gang, we will prosecute you aggressively, and we will seek the harshest penalties possible under the law.”