Man gets 22 years in C. Islip party slay

Despite the pleas of Robert Adams Jr.'s family to send a strong message condemning violence by giving the maximum sentence, a Suffolk judge imposed one that was three years shorter to the man convicted of fatally shooting Adams in 2008.

County Court Judge Martin Efman sentenced Lavelle Todd, 21, to 22 years in prison for the death of Adams, 18, on May 26, 2008, during a community party at the Central Islip Recreation Center.

Prosecutors said Todd, who already has served nearly 3 years in jail, likely will be released from prison in 15 years.

"There's still no justice for my son," Adams' mother, Lorraine Jermon of Central Islip, said after the sentence was pronounced in Suffolk County Court.

Todd was convicted in December of first-degree manslaughter for Adams' death and first-degree assault for wounding two other men in the shooting. Todd was acquitted of second-degree murder. The maximum sentence for first-degree manslaughter is 25 years in prison.

Prosecutors had asked Efman to sentence Todd to consecutive prison terms for manslaughter and assault - a total of 75 years. Todd was sentenced to 17-year sentences for each assault conviction, to run concurrent to the manslaughter sentence.

Prosecutors said Todd shot Adams during a confrontation at the party between rival gang members. Adams was not a gang member, prosecutors said.

Todd's attorney, Daniel Russo of Westhampton Beach, argued at his trial that Todd acted in self-defense. "I didn't mean to kill your son," Todd told Lorraine Jermon in court before he was sentenced.

Before Todd's penalty was announced, Adams' two sisters and his mother and aunt told Efman that a stiff sentence might deter crime in Central Islip.

"The violence has to stop. Kids are killing kids," said Adams' sister, Latoya Jermon of Central Islip. "They're not even fighting. They just want to shoot people."

Efman said in court the circumstances of the shooting were unclear.

Assistant District Attorney Robert Biancavilla disputed that, saying jurors had rejected Todd's self-defense argument. Biancavilla later said he was disappointed in the sentence.

Jermon said of Todd: "He's still young. When he gets out, he's going to be 30-something. He's going to be able to enjoy life. My brother can't."