MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - 17-year old James Prindle is facing 60 to 70 years behind bars. Last month the Cordova teen was found guilty of assaulting a two-year old family member.
His sentencing was set for Wednesday, July 18, but because of a delay Prindle won't find out how much time he has to serve until next month.
Watching Prindle in court during his sentencing hearing you'd never know he's facing decades in prison. Unlike when he was on trial in which he rarely looked up, Prindle was laughing and joking with Sheriff's deputies, and even offered to handcuff himself to his chair.
Judge Bobby Carter, who's presiding over the case, said he's received a number of unsolicited letters from people hoping he's lenient when he sentences Prindle.
Clairborne Ferguson, Prindle's lawyer, told abc24.com letters being written to judges isn't unusual.
"It does happen, it's usually on high profile cases, it's odd in this case and that causes concern for the judge," Ferguson said.
People are asking the Judge to keep Prindle out of prison. They want him to be sent to a Boys Town in Nebraska.
Ferguson explained, "Boys Town would be for kids out of juvenile court as opposed to a criminal justice center… Obviously the courts of Tennessee can't send kids to Nebraska."
Ferguson told abc24.com he does plan to file a motion for a new trial and has also brought on another lawyer to handle Prindle's appeal.
James Prindle is set to be sentenced August 24th.
