Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Mother Seeks More Prison Time For Manslaughter

{Huntington, West Virginia}...Next week marks two years since 22 year old Jeremy Cook was brutally and violently beaten to death. Rhamel Hatcher was tried for murder, but the jury found him guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Involuntary manslaughter is a misdemeanor, carrying a one year sentence.  Hatcher received credit for time served and will be released in  August. Jeremy's mother, Alisa Sizemore, feels justice hasn't been served. Sizemore says she wants the sentence for involuntary manslaughter to increase. She is working with prosecutors and legislatures to write "Jeremy's Law."  Her hope is the bill will become law and increase the sentence to more than one year for anyone charged with involuntary manslaughter. Cabell County Prosecutor Sean Hammers says you can even take "Jeremy's Law" one step further and increase the time for second-degree murder charges.