A man allegedly punched his lawyer in the face after receiving a 50-year prison sentence for murder.
According to a release from the Houston Police Department, 25-year-old Jaquarius Lewis was arrested and charged with murder on May 6, 2024 regarding the April 18 murder of 40-year-old Quincy Johnson.
Local outlet Fox 26 reported that during Lewis pled guilty to murder and the state recommended he be sentenced to 50 years in prison. During his sentencing hearing on April 18, the judge agreed to the state’s recommendation and sentenced Lewis to 50 years in prison.
Lewis’ attorney, John Petruzzi, said that he did not remember the moments following the sentencing.
“At that point, apparently, I was out,” said Petruzzi, who has been practicing law for 46 years. “My client hit me in the face. People in the courtroom said I fell back in the chair, hit a counter, and apparently fell on the ground.”
When he came to, someone told him that Lewis punched him in the face.
“I was kind of shocked,” Petruzzi said. “I’ve done this a long time, and I’ve never had a client hit me before.”
Petruzzi was not seriously injured in the altercation, and Lewis was charged with injury to the elderly.
USA: Man punched his lawyer in face after being sentenced to 50 years in jail for murder
