Talk about white privilege: two of the five suspects in the viral Aug. 5 Montgomery, Alabama riverfront boat brawl pleaded guilty on Friday but basically received a slap on the wrist.
The first defendant, Mary Todd, pleaded guilty to harassment. Instead of jail time, she was ordered to do anger management classes as part of the agreement.
Todd, 21, was seen on camera kicking a Black riverboat captain during an attack that followed the melee. Shortly after, Richard Roberts pleaded guilty to two assault charges. Instead, Roberts got a four-month suspended sentence which he will serve on weekends in Perry County beginning Nov. 4.
If he violates the agreement, he will be forced to serve all four months in prison. In addition, Roberts must complete 100 hours of community service. Todd and Roberts were also instructed to pay court costs.
Two other defendants in the case, Allen Todd and Zachary Shipman, had their cases postponed until Nov. 16. as they could not come to an agreement with prosecutors.
The third defendant, Reggie Ray, is scheduled to have his hearing on November 16 as well. The Todds in addition to Shipman were each charged with one count of third-degree assault. Ray was charged with disorderly conduct.
After the court accepted his guilty plea, Roberts said sorry to victims Damien Pickett and Daniel Moore. Ray, who is accused of wielding a folding chair during the brawl and is the only Black defendant, was “roped into” the fight due to a “white mob” according to his attorney Lee Merritt.
“Mr. Ray was involuntarily roped into the disorderly conduct initiated by a violent white mob,” Merritt said in a statement after Ray turned himself in. “Mr. Ray will continue to participate with the ongoing investigation concerning the same and is committed to being forthcoming about his limited role in the brawl.”