Man allegedly punched attorney in the face after receiving 50-year sentence for murder

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (TCN) -- Right after a judge sentenced him to 50 years behind bars for murder, a 27-year-old man allegedly punched his defense attorney in the face.

On April 28, Jaquarius Lewis was sentenced to five decades behind bars after he pleaded guilty to an April 2024 murder, according to KRIV. He had been facing five to 50 years. The judge agreed with the state’s recommendation of the maximum sentence.

After the sentence was read, Lewis allegedly punched court-appointed attorney John Petruzzi in the face. According to witnesses in the courtroom, Petruzzi fell back in his chair, hit a counter, and then fell to the ground. KRIV reports he said, “I’ve done this a long time, and I’ve never had a client hit me before.”

According to the Houston Police Department, Lewis fatally shot 40-year-old Quincy Johnson on April 18, 2024. Witnesses said they saw Johnson standing on his balcony when two men walked by and shot him. Surveillance footage determined that Lewis was the shooter. The other man present in the footage was questioned and released without being charged. Charges were filed against Lewis on May 6, 2024.

KRIV reports that Lewis has been charged with injury to the elderly following the alleged attack on Petruzzi; he was not seriously injured. According to Law & Crime, it’s unclear if Lewis will receive more prison time for the alleged attack.

MORE:
Cleveland defendant caught on video punching attorney found not guilty — True Crime News