VIDEO: 17-year-old convicted killer smiles in court while victim’s family speaks
WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. (WXYZ/CNN) – A 17-year-old who admitted to robbing and killing a man smiled and chuckled during his sentencing Monday.
The behavior angered the judge so much that he asked prosecutors to take the case to trial instead of accepting a plea deal.
Danta Wright sat in court smiling and nearly laughing as Jordan Klee’s mother shed tears for her son, shot and killed by Wright.
“I’ve lost laughter and love. I no longer have the hope of having grandchildren,” said cousin Courtney Klee, reading from the mother’s statement. “I’ve lost the enjoyment of holidays, birthdays and of everyday life.”
Wright addressed the court, showing no remorse.
“I just want to tell you all I’ll be home soon,” Wright said. “I love my family.”
The judge, clearly fed up with the defendant’s attitude, stopped the proceedings and asked the prosecution to consider taking this case to trial. Wright would face a stiffer punishment if found guilty by a jury.
“I’ve been watching you sit there, smile and laugh and shake your head like this was no big deal,” said Washtenaw County Court Judge David Swartz. “I’m very tempted to just say I’m not going to accept this sentence agreement. You will go to trial, and if you’re convicted of felony murder, you’ll go to prison for the rest of your life and that means you’ll die there.”
This is not the first time the teen had shocked the courtroom. During a June pretrial hearing, he admitted he shot and killed 18-year-old Jordan Klee.
Wright said he and two other friends were trying to rob the victim in October 2016, when he shot Jordan Klee in the back of the head, killing him.
The victim, a senior at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, was described as a high-achieving student and football athlete.
“This year was supposed to be a year of celebration, of senior pictures with prom, graduation and parties,” read Courtney Klee from the mother’s statement. “Instead it was a nightmare, a nightmare no parent should ever endure.”
Ultimately, Jordan Klee’s family decided not to take this case to trial and to move forward with the sentencing.
Defense attorney David Goldstein apologized on behalf of the 17-year-old.
“His smiling was in no way meant as disrespectful either to the family, to the victim or to this court,” Goldstein said.
Wright was sentenced to 23 to 50 years for armed robbery, felony firearm and second-degree murder of Jordan Klee. Two other teens that pleaded guilty for their roles in the murder are scheduled to be sentenced in September.
Judge berates murderer of Ann Arbor teen for smiling, nearly laughing
It was a shocking scene in a Washtenaw County courtroom.
The teen who admitted to murdering Ann Arbor 18-year-old Jordan Klee sat smiling and nearly laughing as his victim’s family members read impact statements before the court.
“I’ve lost my only child, my son, my baby, my friend. More than that, I lost laughter and love. I no longer have the hope of having grandchildren,” a family member read in court on behalf of the victim’s grieving mother.
Afterward, the defendant, 17-year-old Danta Wright, addressed the court saying: “I just want to tell y’all I’ll be home soon…I love my family.”
Wright’s attitude didn’t sit well with the judge, who asked the prosecutors if the sentencing agreement was too lenient.
“Watching you sit there, smile, laugh, shake your head like this was no big deal— I’m very tempted to just say, ‘I’m not going to accept this sentencing agreement and we’ll go to trial’ and if you’re convicted of felony murder, you’ll go to prison for the rest of your life. That means you’ll die there. That’s what I’m tempted to do,” said 22nd Circuit Court Judge David Swartz.
During a brief recess, the family reportedly asked that the case not go to trial, because they wanted to move forward.
Wright’s lawyer apologized on behalf of the teen after the break, saying he suffers from emotional issues and that some people “display fear by smiling.”
Wright was sentenced to 23-50 years in prison for Klee’s murder.
Back at a hearing in June, Wright admitted that he and two other friends were trying to rob 18-year-old Jordan Klee when he shot and killed him last October.
The other two people charged in this case have also plead guilty for their roles.
Delreno Gracey and Jermarius Ellison are scheduled to be sentenced in September.
