Teen who took first punch sentenced

The 18-year-old who took the first swing in the mob-style beating of an MGM worker Easter weekend asked a judge Thursday for leniency.

"I was just a kid that night," Jamar Lamont Rice said. He was just following the crowd, he said.

But District Judge James Bixler handed Rice a five- to 15-year sentence for the nine felonies and two gross misdemeanors a jury convicted him of in February. It was one of the stiffer sentences handed out for the weekend-long crime spree, which has resulted in six convictions.

"He's getting what he deserved," Richard Markwell Jr., the victim of the beating, said afterward.

Prosecutor Victoria Villegas argued that first punch incited the rest of the group to start beating, kicking, stomping and whipping Markwell with belts near the parking garage of the MGM, where Markwell is supervisor of exterior maintenance.

The surveillance video of the beating on April 15 depicts Rice sneaking around Markwell's golf cart and taking a swing at his face. Another defendant struck Markwell with his fists about 20 times.

Markwell, 24, spoke at Rice's sentencing as he has for the other defendants, and he recalled how his right shoulder ligament is torn and permanently damaged and how he will never throw a baseball with his son.

"I truly believe were these individuals not interrupted that morning, they would have beaten me to death," he said.

His father recalled afterward an exchange his son had with Rice, when the teenager was being certified to stand trial as an adult.

Rice told him, "You're all better, and I'm locked up in chains," Richard Markwell Sr., said. "That little comment still sticks in my mind."

His son said he was glad the case is almost over. With each hearing for each defendant, he has put effort into remaining mellow and not becoming upset.

That is getting harder to do, he said.

One defendant remains to be tried.

Rice also was convicted of participating in the beating of a woman outside a North Las Vegas Wal-Mart and then the robbery of a Green Valley Grocery convenience store on Vegas Drive near Tenaya Way that weekend with other youngsters.

Rice apologized in court to his family and to Markwell.

"I was 17 when I did it," he said.

"It's not like I went out there and had the intent to hurt and rob," he said.

State Parole and Probation officials had recommended a four- to 10-year prison term. Defense attorneys argued for probation or a short jail sentence because he already had spent a year in custody.

His family was critical afterward.

"It's not right. It's too hard," Rice's grandmother, Norma Rice, said.

She said it's unfair that he and other defendants were convicted under conspiracy charges for crimes someone else in the group committed.

"It's really wrong how they're looking at these black kids," she said.

Family members have brought the case to the attention of local political leaders and candidates, some of whom speak at their church, Victory Missionary Baptist.

"I feel these leaders need to come here and sit in on these trials and see what's going on," said Rice's aunt, LaTonya Rice.

Defense attorney Michael Schwarz argued that Jamar Rice walked away as the mob attacked Markwell and did not cause the substantial injuries.

The teen never robbed anyone, he said, but was found guilty of robbery because someone in the group took Markwell's walkie-talkie.

LaTonya Rice said she thought the judge should have imposed a more positively instructive sentence of probation and classes.

"The stuff Jamar did, they amount to nothing but misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors," she said.