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Teen Gets 5 Years In Mugging Of Blind Man

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By RAY REYES and KATE CALDWELL

The Tampa Tribune/News Channel 8

Published: March 11, 2009

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Michael Watts

TAMPA - A teenager who pleaded guilty to mugging a blind man was sentenced today to five years in prison and five years of probation.

But when Michael Watts was given an opportunity in court to apologize to his victim, he instead maintained his innocence.

"Whoever did it to you, sir, I'm very sorry," the 17-year-old told Kris Scheppe, who is legally blind.

That angered Hillsborough Circuit Judge Daniel H. Sleet.

"You still deny doing this?" Sleet asked Watts. "You still deny beating him up?"

Watts said he pleaded guilty in his "own best interest" because he didn't want to go to trial and possibly face a longer prison term. Watts also wanted to be sentenced as a juvenile.

"You didn't commit a childish act," Sleet said. "You beat up one of the most defenseless people we have in society. There's no doubt in my mind that you thought he was a blind man and that he would never identify you. But guess what? He's not totally blind. And he saw you."

Watts was 16 when he was arrested in connection with the May 2007 attack and robbery of Scheppe, a Fort Myers resident. Scheppe was in Tampa for a National Federation of the Blind of Florida conference when he got lost walking from the Amtrak train station on Nebraska Avenue.

Scheppe asked someone for directions and was punched, kicked and robbed of his cell phone, wallet, walking stick and other items, police said. A call on the stolen cell phone 17 seconds after the robbery led detectives to Watts.

As part of his probation, Watts is required to get a GED and a job and complete 250 hours of community service. Sleet said 150 hours will be spent working for the Florida Division of Blind Services.

After Watts was sentenced, Scheppe said he didn't "let [the attack] stop me from doing things."

He wants to be the first legally blind person to sail around the world and plans to cast off next year on a donated 36-foot boat.

"There's closure to this," Scheppe said. "There's nothing holding me back."

Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 259-7920.

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