(Sumter) March 14, 2005 - Sentencing has been completed in the murder trial of two teens accused of killing a Shaw airman.
Jeremy Avery was sentenced to 20 years for carjacking, 30 years for armed robbery, and 35 years for murder, as a concurrent sentence served. Hobart Drake was sentenced to 20 years for carjacking, 30 years for armed robbery, and 40 years for murder, as a concurrent sentence served.
On Thursday evening, a jury found Jeremy Avery, 16, and Hobart Drake, 17, guilty of murder, carjacking and armed robbery in the stabbing death of Timothy Maggard.
Millie Dorman is glad the verdict has been given, "My children have been through so much. It's been so hard to go on with everyday life. But we needed this closure."
All week in court, Millie Dorman re-lived her husband's brutal murder, "It's been hell on earth. We've been through so much, dragged from one courtroom to another. They're constantly denying that they did it when the evidence proved that they did."
Timothy Maggard was stabbed more than 20 times on September 26, 2002. The 42-year-old from Wedgefield was a highly-regarded church deacon and Senior MSgt. at Shaw Air Force Base.
The two teenagers were accused of killing him to get his car.
A judge ruled in 2003 the teens would be tried as adults. They were 14 at the time of Maggard's death.
It's thought Maggard had just left a deacons' meeting at his church and was giving the boys a ride home at the time of his death. Prosecutors say the teens wanted Maggard's car, but found they were unable to drive it. They were arrested a few hours later. Maggard's body was found on a dirt road in Wedgefield.
Maggard had once counseled Bubba Drake at church. Friends and family say Maggard was a devoted member of his Wedgefield church, a husband and father of two.
Solicitor Kelly Jackson finds hope in the tragedy, "Senior Master Sergeant Tim Maggart died doing what he loved to do, helping others and a jury of the Sumter community has just assured that his life was not in vain."
Drake and Avery's lawyers had previously asked that the trial be moved because of publicity in the Sumter area. Judge Thomas Cooper denied the motion and Monday a jury of 12 and two alternates were selected.
Reported by Tamara King
Updated 5:53pm by BrettWitt with AP
Senior Master Sgt. Timothy Maggard
