By
Siv Prince
May 8, 2008
Former UW student Anthony “Johnny” Shears was found guilty of two counts of second-degree felony assault on March 19. He was tried by a jury in the King County Superior Court and the verdict was handed down by King County Judge Richard Eadie. Shears will receive his sentencing May 19, said Dan Donahoe of the King County prosecutor’s office.
Shears was arrested for assaulting two 20-year-old women at a party at the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity April 12, 2007. The incident started as an argument between Shears and one female party guest, according to the testimony of the victims at the time of Shears’ arrest.
“Allegedly, it started as a verbal altercation, and the two spilled drinks on each other,” UWPD Chief Ray Wittmier told The Daily last spring. “[Shears] then struck one victim in the face.”
According to the police, Shears proceeded to push the victim onto the ground and stomp her face. A second female party guest attempted to intervene and was punched by Shears as well. The fight broke up when the private security guards hired for the party by Alpha Sigma Phi summoned the police.
Both women sustained injuries requiring medical attention and were taken to the UW Medical Center. One of the victims received stitches. Both were released the following day.
Shears was arrested at the scene and taken into custody. He was released April 14, 2007, pending his trial. A week later, he entered a plea of not guilty in the Superior Court of King County. Shears’ jury trial began March 12, 2008.
Shears, a former UW senior who intended to graduate last June, was attempting to pledge Delta Tau Delta at the time of the incident. Following his arrest, the fraternity severed all ties with Shears.
Shears graduated from Nathan Hale High School and was locally known as an underground rap artist. According to his Web site, Shears had released an album in 2005 titled Welcome to Seattle and had his music played on the radio in Seattle, Boston, New Hampshire and New York. Shears transferred to UW from Dartmouth College in 2006 for family reasons.
Shears’ sentencing hearing will be held at the King County Courthouse at 8:30 a.m. May 19.
14 Comments
#1 Middle F
on May 8, 2008 at 1:32 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
you're a garbage writer who is obviously trying to ruin this young man's life shameful that you would consider this news over the many other, far more violent and haneous activity going on in the city right now. he was at a frat house party and he is the only person to be arrested and/or charged? sounds really fishy to me. sounds typical of how these types of situations often pan out, when the so-called perpetrator is the minority in a mostly white group. the big mean black guy beats up an entire party...gimme a break! we've seen how american justice works: black man vs. the words of a white woman and/or man equals a guilty verdict. what passes for progressive in the northwest is a joke, nothing more than perfunctory white guilt.
#2 H
on May 8, 2008 at 1:56 p.m.(Beaverton, OR | Unverified Name)
This article is fine. You covered the facts clearly and objectively. Good job.
#3 M
on May 8, 2008 at 2:11 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
This is a good article. The first poster (Middle F) was wrong. The young (and STUPID) man who beat two young women is the piece of garbage, and will hopefully get the maximum sentence.
#4 Common Sense
on May 8, 2008 at 3:56 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
Don't try to play the race card...It's a lame excuse
#5 LE
on May 8, 2008 at 4:33 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
He is an abusive individual and these are not the only charges against him involving physical attacks. The court came to the right and just answer...guilty. It is not about race or anything like that, plain and simple, he needs help. Anthony made the decision, no one else, to hurt these women and he now faces the consequences of his actions. No one is trying to ruin any one else's career...Anthony did that himself.
#6 seriously!
on May 13, 2008 at 11:37 a.m.(Costa Mesa, CA | Unverified Name)
all of you...stop writing about things you clearly do NOT know about!
#7 RE:seriously
on May 13, 2008 at 12:51 p.m.(Cheney, WA | Unverified Name)
They have the right to say whatever they want
#8 Blacken Your Eye
on May 13, 2008 at 8:49 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
Is the remix to Tears in your Eyes going to be Blacken Your Eye?
#9 Why?
on May 13, 2008 at 8:50 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
Can't I find his name in the King County Jail Registry? If you're arraigned, you should be on there, somethings not adding up...
#10 sentencing
on May 19, 2008 at 6:03 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
does anyone know what his sentence was. I thought it was supposed to be today but can't find the info
#11 justice
on May 22, 2008 at 10:38 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
put him in jail
#12 the only real adult posting...
on June 4, 2008 at 9:43 a.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
the reality is there are far more important stories that could be covered. it's difficult at best for anyone who has never been "the other" or "the only" or "one of a few" to consider unjust treatment at the hands of law enforcement and/or the legal system. most of you who wrote in are at a deficit when it comes to the facts of the case and this young man's life. did the "journalist" ever mention his affiliation with the frat house where the incident occured? how is reporting on this story going to impact the uw community in a positive way? did the writer mention that the party was illegally serving alcohol? is the same effort (two stories) given to the far more violent recent incidents involving some uw athletes? sounds to me like mr. shears is being scapegoated. this is still america, and unfortunately fitting the "profile" is still a reality for many. it's easy for those in priveleged positions to throw out the notion that someone else should be jailed. look at your own lives and your own closets and consider the untoward things you've done before you indict someone else's character. anthony didn't beat those girls. were any of you there? did you witness him touch the young ladies? no, i didn't think so. experience is the best teacher, and my hope for you young people is that you will begin to see the world that is and not the world that exists in your head, in the bubble of seattle, or the one that is sold to you on your t.v. screens. in other words, WAKE UP!!
#13 TruthFinder2008
on June 4, 2008 at 10 a.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
I managed to get a copy of the case facts. its funny that one of the alleged victims/witnesses texted messaged him less than 10 days later. Oh, you don't believe me? I'm pretty sure that's Niki Santo's phone number on that text.... I wonder what prompted the text... Guilty conscious maybe? Real journalist always get both sides of the story - hence the word "alleged." To be continued...
http://s295.photobucket.com/albums/mm...
P.S.,
I find it strange that a member of one of the three fraternities throwing this illegal party would be allowed to write two articles about this incident, one of which was taken down by the University.
CHURCH!
#14 TruthFinder2008
on June 4, 2008 at 10:03 a.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
Forgive that last link. It did not copy properly.
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm...
AMEN.
Another interesting fact about the situation, which is listed in the court documents, is that (1) the party did not stop despite this events happening, and (2) not one member of a fraternity with nearly 100 members (many of whom "seen" this event) came forward and made a statement.
Interesting.
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