Mississippi man gets sentence nearly tripled by judge after creating commotion outside courtroom

A Mississippi man’s 25-year sentence for attempted murder and attempted kidnapping was nearly tripled by a judge who witnessed the man misbehaving outside of the court.

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports that Amonty Young, 37, of West Point, will now spend 70 years behind bars after he caused a commotion in a holding cell after Judge James Kitchens’ initial sentence in Clay County Court.

Young was convicted of stabbing a woman and attempting to force her into her car before stealing it when she resisted in January 2022. Shortly after his arrest, he was found with marijuana in the Clay County Jail.

Young admitted to the attack and agreed to plead guilty to attempted murder and attempted kidnapping. In return, the state dropped the car theft and contraband charges. On July 19, Judge James Kitchens sentenced Young to 30 years for attempted murder, with five years suspended and 10 years for attempted kidnapping. The sentences were to run concurrently, resulting in 25 years behind bars.

However, Young’s behavior after the sentencing prompted Judge Kitchens to recall him to court. The judge revised the sentencing to 40 years for attempted murder and 30 years for attempted kidnapping, citing Young’s immediate post-sentencing conduct. The sentences were ordered to run consecutively, totaling 70 years.

Judge Kitchens justified the harsher sentence, indicating that Young is a special danger to the community.

Young, no stranger to legal troubles, has a criminal history spanning two decades, including charges of burglary, car theft, felony fleeing, forgery, escaping jail, and assaulting an officer. After his latest sentencing, he was transferred to the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility to begin serving his 70-year term.