Citizen Staff Writer
SHERYL KORNMAN
skornman@tucsoncitizen.com
Pima County Superior Court Judge Howard Fell sentenced Raymond Godoy on Tuesday to five years of intensive probation for hindering the prosecution of the man accused of killing teenager Derreck Burruss.
Godoy, 17, faced a charge of first-degree murder in the shooting but made a plea deal in mid-March. Fell could have sentenced Godoy to two to 8.75 years in prison.
Fell’s decision let Godoy leave jail Tuesday, after serving 469 days awaiting the outcome of his case.
Fell ordered Godoy to report to a probation officer Wednesday, to do 360 hours of community service, to undergo drug testing regularly and to refrain from alcohol and drug use.
Burruss, 16, was shot while walking with friends near Park Place mall after midnight Jan. 5, 2008.
Burruss’ mother, Lakia Culver, 35, was stunned that Godoy will not serve prison time.
She told Fell she opposed the deal Godoy made with the Pima County Attorney’s staff.
Before addressing the judge, Culver placed the urn containing Burruss’ cremated remains on the prosecutor’s table along with a photo album containing pictures of her dead son.
Culver told Fell, “I want peace for my family and I want justice for my son.”
Derreck was the oldest of her five children.
“I am literally scared to death I’m going to lose another child,” she said. “I don’t feel safe letting them out of my sight.”
And, she said, “I wake up some nights screaming because I miss him so much.”
Godoy admitted he hid the gun used to kill Burruss and didn’t tell police about it, but his attorney, Jill Thorpe, said he was a “follower” who has changed in his more than a year behind bars.
She asked for leniency, telling Fell it was not Godoy but Raymond Encinas who shot and killed Burruss.
Fell will sentence Encinas on May 26. A jury convicted him of first-degree murder in February.
Thorpe said Godoy simply stood by as the gun was fired, did not call 911 to report the shooting or get help for Burruss.
Thorpe said Godoy should have sought help for Burruss as he lay dying near a bus stop but didn’t. Even so, she said he deserved a chance to rebuild his life.
Fell agreed, telling Godoy, “You’re salvageable.”
Teen who hid murder weapon gun gets probation for hindering prosecution