Judge Hands Down Life-plus Sentences

Judge Scott Smith yesterday sentenced two teens to life in prison, plus 25 years for their roles in what law enforcement officials call Bartow's first gang-related homicide, reported.

Dimitrius “C.J.” Metablo Castle Jr., now 18, and Dedric “Boosie” Deshon Jackson, 19, who are brothers, were found guilty of felony murder, a firearms violation and other counts in connection with the March 2010 shooting death of 19-year-old Norman Ray Moore Jr. on Middlebrook Drive in Cartersville.

The third teen charged in connection with the incident was found not guilty by Juvenile Court Judge Velma Tilley, according to the newspaper and . Leondris “Frog” T. Jackson, who was 14 years old at the time of Moore's death, was charged as an adult, but Smith prior to the beginning of the trio's scheduled Superior Court trial. Jackson was then tried in Juvenile Court.

The radio station reports Leondris Jackson has been released from a juvenile detention facility.

authorities last year told Moore’s death resulted from “gang members flexing their muscle” at a birthday party.

Investigators during subsequent court hearings indicated the teens became involved in a physical altercation preceded by turf disputes. A Middlebrook Drive shots fired incident investigators say also was gang-related resulted in no injuries just months before Moore's death.