Dayonn Davis, 18, was charged as an adult for his role in the robbery, even though he was just 15 years old when it happened. (Image courtesy of Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office)
A Georgia teen will spend five years in prison and 10 on probation for his role in an armed robbery over a pair of Nike “Oreo” sneakers.
Dayonn Davis was just 15 years old when the robbery took place, walking away with shoes valued at over $100, the Ledger-Enquirer reported. On Thursday, a judge sentenced him to jail over the incident — despite Davis having no prior criminal record.
Davis, now 18, contacted the owner of the pricey black and white shoes after seeing them for sale on Facebook, prosecutor Sadhana Dailey said. He and the owner arranged to meet at a park on January 17, 2016, to finish up the transaction. Davis let a friend tag along with him to the rendezvous, however, which turned out to be a mistake.
After trying on the sneakers and determining they were a good fit, Davis told the seller, “these shoes is took.” That’s when Davis’ friend pulled out a gun and everyone scattered.
It wasn’t long before Columbus police caught up with the teens, later finding the pair of stolen shoes tucked away in Davis’ closet.
“I don’t get that,” Judge Bobby Peters said this week as he sentenced the teen for robbery. “Must be some valuable shoes.”
In court, defense attorney Susan Henderson emphasized that her client, who was charged as an adult, had no previous record and maintained A’s and B’s in school before his grades dropped following his arrest. She maintained Davis had no idea his friend was going to pull a gun that day and said he just wants to put the entire ordeal behind him.
“He’s got his life on track now,” Henderson told the judge.
When Davis’ mother, who also spoke before the court, told Peters her son had simply “been with the wrong person that day,” the judge balked and said, “Maybe he’s the wrong person — he’s the one with the shoes in his closet.”
On Thursday, Assistant Police Chief Gil Slouchick said kids being robbed for their sneakers is all too common nowadays, mainly because they’ve increased in value in the last several years.
“Tennis shoes are expensive nowadays,” Slouchick told the newspaper, adding that thieves prize them as much as any other costly item. “It’s something now that’s worth more than it used to be.”
News of Davis’ sentencing has sparked outrage among critics, many who’ve pointed to the hypocrisy of the teen getting jail time over a pair of sneakers while a white, California man received just 90 days of house arrest after sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl.
• 15-year-old black male gets 5 years in adult prison and 10 years of probation for stealing shoes.
• 79-year-old white male gets 90 days house arrest for raping a 5-year-old.
This is white privilege. pic.twitter.com/wKYgWdvcZ5
— Simran Jeet Singh (@simran) May 31, 2018
They said his homeboy that was with him pulled out a strap but still..I don’t understand how you give a minor 5 yrs in prison for his first offense, over stealing one pair of shoes..
— Ant (@ant_305_pfc) June 1, 2018
.@ACLU This is a travesty of justice and an absolute outrage. Can you help Dayonn Davis? #FreeDayonn https://t.co/MBu5TSueLq
— Valerie Baffa (@BaffaVbaffa) June 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/margeauxpoleaux/status/1002396641658167296
If there's any doubt your blackness isn't considered criminal in America, let me introduce you to Dayonn Davis who stole a pair of Jordans and Ethan Couch who killed 4 people… https://t.co/k454WpBGN7
— The Noum-b'tselem elohim (@NoumThe) June 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/TheCyko/status/1002372496375590912
