DeWitt, NY – A man was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the kidnapping and torture of another man. Shah Powell, 36, was convicted after holding Jhomiel Brown hostage in a shed, where he subjected him to severe brutality.
Brown testified that on September 24, he was beaten with metal poles, burned with cigarettes, and had his two front teeth pulled out with pliers. He described how he used one of his extracted teeth to saw through duct tape binding his wrists to his ankles, allowing him to escape.
Powell testified that Brown’s injuries were the result of a drug deal gone awry. Prosecutors countered that Powell lied while testifying in his defense.
Prosecutors stated that Powell was not prepared to accept the gravity of his actions. Following the guilty verdict, Powell punched a wall in frustration.
Before trial, Powell turned down a plea deal that would have resulted in a 10-year sentence. The judge dismissed the defense’s request for a lighter sentence, emphasizing the need for accountability for the assault on Brown.