A Smith County jury sentenced Patrick Crowder Jr. on Thursday night to five years in prison with no probation in connection with the stabbing death of his father.
The 23-year-old Flint resident was found guilty of aggravated assault with a weapon against a family member Wednesday in the 114th District Court. The jury spent roughly one hour Wednesday deciding the guilty verdict and slightly over seven hours Thursday for the sentence.
According to the Texas Penal Code, Crowder Jr. faced from five to 99 years in prison and a possible fine of up to $10,000.
Crowder’s altercation with his father, Patrick Crowder Sr., on Oct. 14, 2018, involved a confrontation involving a kitchen knife at the elder Crowder’s home. The fight concerned the younger Crowder not wanting to go to church. The wound led to Crowder Sr.’s death, according to a pathologist who conducted the autopsy and testified at the trial.
Crowder Jr.’s mother, Roshanda Crowder, and sister, Alexis Roberson, testified Tuesday the use of the knife was an accident.
Before he used the knife, the younger Crowder was pushed a few times by his father and got up each time, according to his mother’s testimony. Her son did nothing aggressive to his father at that point, his mother said.
In the sentencing phase Thursday, defense witnesses, including Crowder Jr.’s mother, grandmother and local church pastors, asked the jury to have mercy and allow him to be a part of the family healing process.
The state asked the jury to choose some prison time for Crowder Jr. in the death of his father to hold him accountable. The defense asked for the jury to choose probation.
TWITTER: @ZWellerman