Advertisement

Lionel Tate faces court hearing

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Convicted murderer Lionel Tate's alleged house arrest violation in a park before dawn Friday followed an argument with his mother, his attorney says.

Tate is scheduled to appear in court next Wednesday to determine if he should be deemed in violation of his house arrest and given an additional sentence, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.

Advertisement

Tate, 17, was arrested Tuesday, accused of leaving his home Friday and possessing a pocket knife with a four-inch blade. Deputies sent him home Friday after questioning him in a park.

Attorney Richard Rosenbaum said he was disappointed, angry and concerned for Tate. He said he had learned there has been tension between Tate and his mother.

Tate was convicted of the beating death of 6-year-old Tiffany Eunick in July 1999 when he was 12. He was the youngest defendant to be sentenced to life in prison under mandatory guidelines for first-degree murder convictions.

An appeals court threw out the conviction and he was allowed to plead to second-degree murder. He was sentenced to one-year house arrest followed by 10 years probation.

Latest Headlines