Cleveland Heights Teens Sentenced in Post-Homecoming Game Beating

Two more teens who pleaded guilty to attacking a Cleveland Heights man after a homecoming football game were sentenced today.

Phillip Morris, 18, of Cleveland Heights, received a seven-year prison sentence, and Maurice Pollard, 17, also of Cleveland Heights, received the maximum of nine and a half years, said Ryan Miday, spokesperson for Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason's Office. Pollard was tried as an adult. 

"Pollard received the stiffest penalty because he was most responsible for causing the injuries to this victim," Miday said by email. "While the victim was on the ground being hit and kicked by others, Pollard picked up a large landscaping stone and smashed it on the head of the victim."

Pollard and Morris both pleaded guilty to felonious assault and aggravated riot in June. 

Twin brothers Santino and Santize Jones, 19, of Cleveland, also to the beating and were sentenced March 28. Jones received five years and Santino Jones received four. Santize Jones got one more year than Santino because he has a more extensive criminal record, and the victim's DNA was found on his shoe, prosecutors said. 

Shakeela Hoey, whose fight with a 16-year-old Cleveland Heights resident started the chain of events that evening, also pleaded guilty March 2 to a first-degree misdemeanor assault charge, and she received the maximum sentence of six months. by Judge Timothy McGinty. 

On Oct. 22, after a Cleveland Heights homecoming football game, Hoey, 19, of Cleveland, got in a fight with a 16-year-old near 2100 Lee Road, according to prosecutors. The fight continued and moved to the corner of Lee Road and Washington Boulevard. 

A 33-year-old Cleveland Heights resident attempted to break up the fight, and the Jones twins, Morris and Pollard stomped on him, kicked him and Pollard struck his head with a large landscaping stone, according to prosecutors. The man's skull and leg were fractured from the incident.

Morris was initially charged with kidnapping, attempted murder, felonious assault, among other charges. Pollard was initially charged with attempted murder, felonious assault and aggravated riot. 

Pollard and Morris were sentenced at 8:30 a.m. today in Judge Michael Astrab's court.