<img src=" http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/courts.gif" border=0> Thomas White sentenced to 10 years in state custody

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September 4, 2009

<img src=" http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/courts.gif" border=0> Thomas White sentenced to 10 years in state custody

Anonymous The Joplin Globe Fri Sep 04, 2009, 01:51 PM CDT

Thomas G. White, the Joplin teen who fired an assault rifle inside Memorial Middle School three years ago, was sentenced Friday to 10 years in state custody.

At a hearing in Jasper County Circuit Court, Circuit Judge David Mouton ordered White, 16, turned over to the Division of Youth Services for placement in its dual-jurisdiction program at Montgomery City for juveniles who commit serious crimes.

White was 13 when he took an assault rifle to the school on Oct. 9, 2006, fired a shot into a hallway ceiling and then repeatedly attempted to shoot Principal Stephen Gilbreth at near-point-blank range as Gilbreth ushered him out of the school. Joplin police say the attempt was foiled by an improperly seated ammunition clip in the rifle.

The teen, who was certified to stand trial as an adult, pleaded guilty in June to two counts of first-degree assault and a single count of armed criminal action in a plea agreement that dismissed additional counts of discharging a weapon inside a school and attempted escape.

The judge assessed the juvenile three 10-year terms on the convictions, with the sentences to run concurrent. White faced up to 15 years on each count of assault. The conviction for armed criminal action carried no limit on length of sentence.

White, who has been in jail and a psychiatric hospital for children since the incident, could be released from the dual-jurisdiction program by his 18th birthday. That is the earliest he could request a hearing with the court and consideration for probation.

The court of sentencing would be mandated to hold a hearing sometime prior to his 21st birthday since Montgomery City is not allowed to keep offenders past that age. The court would then decide if he is to be released or sent to an adult prison for completion of the sentences. White will turn 17 in December.