Published on Thursday, October 13, 2005
in the WCTV News

Sapp Verdict In

Sapp was found guilty of all the charges he faced, except the two counts of attempted murder.

Those charges were lessened to aggravated battery and aggravated assault both with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement officer.

It took jurors two and a half hours to bring back a verdict. In the end, they determined that Theron Sapp did not try to kill two Florida troopers, but certainly could have.

Jack Campbell, prosecutor, said, "We were pleased with the verdict. I think the jury worked really hard and it's consistent with them deciding that when Mr. Sapp decided to run over the troopers, so I can understand how they reached the conclusion that Mr. Sapp wasn't trying to kill him, but was trying to run him over with the car."

It all happened last April when troopers stopped Sapp for speeding. When they turned their backs he sped off. They later cornered him off Old Bainbridge Road, ordering him to stop, but he sped off again, hitting one trooper and narrowly missing the other. His trial was about convincing the jury that he didn't make a choice to kill the officers, just a choice to flee.

Alex Morris, defense attorney, said, "I think they wound up rendering a verdict based on the facts that they heard and what they believe is a lawful and just verdict."

Even though he was not found guilty of attempted murder he's still going back to prison. Two of Sapp's family members were in the courtroom for Wednesday morning's session, but they did not stick around to hear the verdict.

Since Sapp just got out of prison within the last three years, he faces a minimum mandatory sentence of at least 30 years.