Crazed Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Robbery-Slaying, Jennings Overturns Ruling

By Russell Lorrie

The Braddock Times

Braddock, TX -- A 27-year-old man with a history of mental problems was sentenced to 35 years in prison Tuesday for his role in the killing of a 52-year-old formerly homeless man last year.

State District Judge Beverly Smith sentenced Letravis Gorman in the slaying of Ted Holmes, 52, after hearing arguments. "The state asked for a life sentence," said prosecutor Elizabeth Tate. "The defense argued it was unfair, based on his mental issues, to send Gorman to prison. They were arguing common sense. I would have preferred leniency, but that wasn't my decision."

Ned A. Morehead, who argued on behalf of Gorman, contended that Holmes was the instigator of the crime. "I was really hoping the judge would acquit the retard (Gorman)" Morehead said. "In that regard, I was a little disappointed. But the state asked for life and they didn't get that. Police have said that Gorman approached Holmes on Sept. 10, 2006, as he carried a sack of groceries to his cardboard home set up behind the Braddock County Public Library. Gorman first demanded his frozen pizza and then decided he wanted Holmes's money. When Holmes told him he didn't have any money, he was forced at knifepoint into his box. Inside, Gorman shoved Holmes causing him to crash into a pyramid of glass jars filled with urine and ransacked his box, taking a comb and DVD's belonging to the library, deputies have said. Afterward, Gorman killed Holmes and left through the back hole of his box.

Deputies have said that Gorman stabbed him, cut his throat, strangled him and bound his feet when he wouldn't quit moving. Then Gorman pleasured himself several times over the corpse before leaving. Afterward, officials said, Gorman pawned some of the stolen items and dumped a backpack containing Holmes's identification and a bloody knife in a trash bin at the Braddock County Public Library. After the backpack was found, Braddock police notified Holmes's social workers. On Sept. 13, 2007, they went to Holmes's box, when no one answered the flap, a maintenance worker climbed inside the window hole and found his body. Police later arrested Gorman, who watched the investigation unfold from across the street in a "very excited, and aroused state."

Gorman's girlfriend, BCPL part-time reference librarian Karma McCarthy, 59, was charged with tampering with physical evidence in the case and received four years deferred adjudication probation in exchange for her testimony. Simpson said Karma burned the victim's underwear and pawned Braddock Library's stolen DVDs.

On Monday and Tuesday, Gorman's attorneys presented evidence to the judge. Morehead said that Gorman has a history of mental illness and that he is "mildly" mentally retarded (he has Down Syndrome) and suffers from emotional problems and sex addiction. He said his parents abandoned him shortly after his birth in Boise, ID, and he has been in and out of foster homes most of his life.

Morehead said Gorman was all "hopped up on jenkem" when Gorman wanted to steal Holmes's frozen pizza. "It was a stupid, vicious crime," Morehead said. Holmes was a former military man who had been homeless. Shortly before his death, he had begged for change at the Salvation Army shelter. "To rob someone for their frozen pizza? A man who had virtually nothing, except for a few jars of urine and some stolen DVDs from theBraddock County Public Library" Simpson said. "It defies logic, why someone would make such a choice."

The next day after the verdict was read, Federal Superior CourtJustice of the 5th Circuit, Judge William J. Jennings acquitted Gorman. Jennings argued that Gorman became mad because the pizza was cold, and therefore the homocide was justifiable. It should be noted that Gorman is part of Jennings' wrestling stable in the WNWA, however, Jennings says that had no bearing on his decision.