Douglas Every sentenced to 17 years for Manslaughter

Douglas Every sentenced to 17 years for Manslaughter

Sixty-three year old Douglas Every glances up at his attorney, Thomas Cline, following the handing down of a 17-year prison sentence and five years of follow-up supervision by Judge Gerald Keene on charges of Manslaughter 1. Douglas Every was found guilty of Manslaughter 1 following the fatal stabbing of Milton Jump Jr. on Oct. 23, 2013 at Douglas Every’s Thorn Hollow Road residence in the Town of Tioga, Tioga County, N.Y. The sentencing took place at the Tioga County Courthouse in Owego, N.Y. on Friday, Jan. 30, 2015. (Photos by Wendy Post)

Douglas Every sentenced to 17 years for Manslaughter

Sixty-three year old Douglas Every listens as Judge Gerald Keene hands down a sentence of 17 years in prison and five years of follow-up supervision on charges of Manslaughter 1. Douglas Every was found guilty of Manslaughter 1 following the fatal stabbing of Milton Jump Jr. on Oct. 23, 2013 at Douglas Every’s Thorn Hollow Road residence in the Town of Tioga, Tioga County, N.Y. The sentencing took place at the Tioga County Courthouse in Owego, N.Y. on Friday, Jan. 30, 2015.

On Friday, Jan. 30, 2015, 63-year old Douglas Every of the Town of Tioga in Tioga County, N.Y. appeared in the Tioga County Courthouse for sentencing on charges of Manslaughter 1 in relation to the stabbing death of 39-year old Milton Jump Jr. that took place on Oct. 23, 2013 at the defendant’s Thorn Hollow Road residence.

Sitting flanked by his attorneys, George Awad and Thomas Cline, Douglas Every showed no emotion as Tioga County Judge Gerald Keene handed down a sentence of 17 years in prison, followed by five years of supervision upon his release.

And this lack of emotion shown by Douglas Every was Judge Keene’s point of contention when he handed down the sentence to the one time realtor, who was well known within the community.

With a motion previously filed by the defense attorneys that the charge be dismissed based on the weight of the evidence, claims that the defense was not allowed to testify about the victim’s [Milton Jump Jr.] behaviors, and their argument that Murder in the 2nd degree should not have been allowed for the jury’s consideration and that the instruction by Judge Keene regarding intent was not sufficient, District Attorney Kirk Martin, weighed in on this as well as Judge Keene.

Martin stated that the defendant in the case, Douglas Every, has continued to see himself as the victim.

“The victim [Milton Jump Jr.] was unarmed, and it is disturbing that he [Douglas Every] feels that the trial was unfair,” said Martin.

Thomas Cline, Defense Attorney along with George Awad, argued that the pre-investigation report regarding Douglas Every’s mental and physical condition should not have been released.

Martin argued this point, once again, stating that doctors were at the trial to testify about Douglas Every’s condition, and that they also testified there were issues surrounding alcohol abuse.

Upon brief arguments prior to sentencing, Judge Keene agreed to remove the information from the pre-investigation reports surrounding Douglas Every’s mental and physical conditions, but rejected to remove some of the other requests.

Douglas Every sentenced to 17 years for Manslaughter

Judge Gerald Keene hands down a sentence of 17 years in prison and five years of follow-up supervision to 63-year old Douglas Every on charges of Manslaughter 1. Douglas Every was found guilty of Manslaughter 1 following the fatal stabbing of Milton Jump Jr. on Oct. 23, 2013 at Douglas Every’s Thorn Hollow Road residence in the Town of Tioga, Tioga County, N.Y. The sentencing took place at the Tioga County Courthouse in Owego, N.Y. on Friday, Jan. 30, 2015.

“I am unaware that he [Douglas Every] is an alcoholic, but I am just going by what was testified to during the trial,” said Judge Keene.

At that point, Defense Attorney George Awad requested Judge Keene render the lowest possible sentence, and stated, “My opinion is that it is clear that alcohol was involved by all.” He added, “My client [Douglas Every] is 63, possibly has early onset dementia, and is remorseful.”

With all said and done, Judge Keene stated that he reviewed everything from the trial, and that it was clear that nice things were written in about the defendant, Douglas Every, and that the family of Milton Jump Jr. has been clearly impacted.

Judge Keene continued, “Instead of saying he [Douglas Every] was remorseful, when asked, he claimed it was political, and that he didn’t get a fair trail. He had the best attorneys, although the jury rejected his claims of self-defense. It was the senseless taking of another person’s life.”

Keene then stated, “You didn’t have to stab him, but you did. You could have left when you claimed you were outside, but you did not – and you are not the victim. You did not have to stab Mr. Jump.”

Judge Keene concluded that the whole incident was fueled by alcohol, and suggested to Douglas Every that while in prison, he should consider getting some treatment.

With that, Judge Keene handed down a sentence of 17 years in prison, and then five years of supervision upon his release. He also ordered restitution for the burial of Milton Jump Jr., and that his bail be exonerated.

Douglas Every sentenced to 17 years for Manslaughter

Sixty-three year old Douglas Every, center, is led out of the Tioga County Courthouse on Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 after Judge Gerald Keene handed down a sentence of 17 years in prison and five years of follow-up supervision on charges of Manslaughter 1. Douglas Every was found guilty of Manslaughter 1 following the fatal stabbing of Milton Jump Jr. on Oct. 23, 2013 at Douglas Every’s Thorn Hollow Road residence in the Town of Tioga, Tioga County, N.Y.

Douglas Every showed very little emotion upon the sentence, except for conferring briefly with his attorneys, and was then escorted, in handcuffs, from the courthouse where he will most likely be sent to the Tioga County Jail, and then Elmira for prison processing.

Following the sentence, Tioga County District Attorney Kirk Martin stated that Milton Jump was the victim, and that it was a senseless crime.

“He [Douglas Every] showed no remorse. We feel justice was served and he was granted a fair trial.”

Milton Jump’s grieving mother, Gladys Jump, was indifferent about the sentence and more in shock over the fact that Douglas Every never showed any remorse. “He never showed a bit of remorse over my son’s life,” she added.

Defense Attorney George Awad was not satisfied with the sentence, and stated he would be appealing to a higher court.

Douglas Every’s charges, trial, conviction for Manslaughter 1, and sentencing were the result of a fatal altercation that took place at Douglas Every’s Thorn Hollow Road home, where Milton Jump Jr. and the man he cared for, James Atwell, were residing when their FEMA home was returned. It was a temporary residence.

On the fateful evening of Oct. 23 2013, an argument ensued at the residence with only one witness at the home, James Atwell, who was bound to a wheelchair.

During the arguments that took place that evening, Milton Jump Jr. was fatally stabbed in the heart by Douglas Every, and an investigation shortly ensued.

As said by District Attorney Kirk Martin, and following days of prosecution and defense arguments, “ Douglas Every brought the knife into the argument.”

The defense, in the meantime, maintained claims that Douglas Every was merely acting in self-defense.

The testimony presented proved otherwise in the eyes of the jury, and a sentence handed down aligned with the justice system, as served, in Tioga County.