On June 30, Joseph Wells Stapleton and Lance Allen Schmitt, both 21, of Clarkston were sentenced to 20?40 years in prison for the second degree murder of Peter Richard. Circuit Judge Langford-Morris credited both men with 729 days served.
Stapleton and Schmitt were found guilty of second-degree murder charges on June 10. The murder charges were brought by prosecutors after Richard, a 44-year-old Lapeer resident, died from complications following surgery.
Prosecutor’s linked Richard’s surgery to an assault by Stapleton and Schmitt outside of the McDonald’s on Sashabaw Road in March 2002. Both men served one year in prison for assault with intent to inflict great bodily harm after pleading no contest.
According to Assistant Prosecutor Greg Townsend, Judge Langford-Morris stated the case spoke volumes of lessons to be learned and consequences for one’s actions. Morris also commented that this is not the first case of delayed consequences and will not be the last.
Townsend also said Schmitt stated his second degree murder charge was ludicrous. Schmitt also stated that Richard’s blood is not on his hands and what happened after the assault was out of his control.
Townsend said Stapleton issued an apology.
In a statement over the phone, Townsend said, ‘I thought the penalties were justified. In over 20 years in prosecuting, this is one of the most brutal and savage beatings I have seen? and for no reason at all.?