A 16-year-old Superior Township boy accused of robbing and then shooting a 39-year-old man was sentenced in the Washtenaw County Trial Court Tuesday.
Bertel Gibbs was convicted as an adult, but sentenced as a juvenile.
Judge Donald Shelton sentenced Gibbs to complete juvenile probation. Violation of this sentence will bring Gibbs back to court to be sentenced as an adult with a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison.
Gibbs will be receiving treatment from Wolverine Human Services. His progress will be reviewed by the Washtenaw County Trial Court on Nov. 19 and he will return before Shelton every six months until his probation is complete.
No further information on his sentencing was given.
Gibbs was charged with six counts; three weapons felony firearm counts, assault with intent to murder, armed robbery, and assault with bodily harm less than murder. On April 22 Gibbbs accepted a plea deal and pleaded guilty. All of the counts were dismissed except count five: assault with bodily harm less than murder.
Shelton told Gibbs that being sentenced as a juvenile is a second chance. Gibbs apologized to the victim, the victim’s family, and his own family for what he has put them through.
A news release from the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office said that Gibbs was charged as an adult because of the seriousness of the crimes, AnnArbor.com reported.
The 39-year-old Ypsilanti Township citizen robbed and shot by Gibbs told police that he was at an apartment complex in the 110 block of South Harris Road when the incident took place. The victim told police that Gibbs had a handgun and told him to hand over his money. Gibbs then shot the man in the leg, according to the report.
Chelsea Hoedl is an intern reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at choedl@mlive.com.