DALLAS -- A Persian Gulf War veteran was sentenced to 75 years in prison for a robbery in which a professional baseball umpire was paralyzed by a gunshot wound to the back.
A jury delivered its verdict late Saturday after about six hours of deliberations in the case of Army Pvt. Kevin Bivins, who was convicted Friday of aggravated robbery.
Bivins admitted firing shots during a ruckus outside a restaurant during which American league umpire Steve Palermo, ex-professional football player Terence Mann, and others were trying to break up a robbery. Palermo, 42, was shot in the back and paralyzed. He now can walk only with the use of braces.
'What you did, son, was terrible,' State District Judge John Creuzot told Bivins. 'You need to realize that things like this shake up the entire city as well as victims. People all around the city don't feel safe as a result.'
Defense lawyer Julius Whittier had asked for probation, while prosecutors were seeking the maximum 99-year sentence. Bivins will be eligible for parole in 15 years.
As Bivins was led away, he cried and prayed, Whittier said.
'After we returned to the holding cell, we said a prayer,' Whittier said.
Assistant District Attorney Jerri Sims said she was satisfied with the sentence.
'It's a shame where he is,' she said. 'But like we told the jury, he put himself there. It's a relief for the victims.'
Palermo testified that Bivins fired five times into a group of men that had stopped one of several robbers fleeing the Dallas restaurant. Bivins claimed during testimony he shot in self defense, claiming Mann drew a weapon on him.
Bivins, who still faces two counts of attempted murder and an additional count of aggravated robbery, had had no criminal record. His 15-year-old brother is scheduled for trial next week in juvenile court on aggravated robbery and robbery charges.
