MILWAUKEE — Four men charged in the death of D'Vontaye Mitchell outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel have been sentenced, and Mitchell's family says justice was not served.
Mitchell died after being held down by the four men outside the downtown Milwaukee hotel. His family expressed outrage at the sentences handed down in court, with his mother calling the outcome "some BS."
"My son's life was taken. There was no justice served here today, absolutely no justice," Brenda Giles, Mitchell's mother, told TMJ4 outside the courtroom.
Sentencing details
Brandon Turner, who pleaded guilty to felony murder, received 12 months' probation. Herbert Williamson and Devon Johnson Carson, who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery, received no additional jail time or probation.
Todd Erickson, who also pleaded guilty to felony murder and was considered the ringleader by prosecutors, was sentenced to prison time. However, Judge Swanson stayed that sentence, giving Erickson probation instead.
Erickson initially received four years — two years incarceration and two years supervision — but the stayed sentence means he will only serve probation and will not go to jail for this case.
Watch: No jail time for former hotel workers charged in death of D'Vontaye Mitchell
Family's reaction
Giles said the sentences felt like a "slap on the wrist" and questioned the fairness of the justice system.
"They get to live their life with their family, with their loved ones, get to celebrate all these holidays, birthdays and everything with their family. My son is 6 feet under. I will never see him again," Giles said.
She described feeling "so much anger" and "so much frustration" while facing the men responsible for her son's death in court.
Prosecutors' position
Prosecutors had requested probation for everyone except Erickson, whom they viewed as the most culpable in Mitchell's death. The assistant district attorney called Erickson the ringleader and requested incarceration time for him specifically.
However, Erickson's defense attorney argued that blame should not be placed solely on his client.
The case drew attention after charges took more than a week to be filed against the four individuals following Mitchell's death outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
See earlier updates provided during the court proceedings:
3:58 p.m. — Sentencing
Erickson was sentenced to 4 years, including a two-year stayed prison sentence and two years of probation. If Erickson meets the terms of his probation, he will not have to serve any prison time.
3:52 p.m. — Erickson addresses the court
3:10 p.m. — State recommends prison time for Erickson
The State argued that Erickson was the most culpable in Mitchell's death. A portion of the surveillance video was played to show Erickson restraining Mitchell. The video also shows Erickson strike Mitchell with his baton and kick him in the head.
"It's gratuitous violence at this point," assistant DA Dan Flaherty said.
3:05 p.m. — Court resumes for Todd Alan Erickson sentencing
Mitchell's wife, step-father, mother and brother gave victim impact statements as the court resumed for Todd Alan Erickson's sentencing hearing.
"I dont feel like justice was served to me," Mitchell's mother, Brenda Giles, said. "It was some BS today."
2:06 p.m. —Court breaks
Proceedings will resume at 3 p.m. for the sentencing of Todd Alan Erickson, a former security guard at the hotel, who pleaded guilty to being a party to felony murder.
2:04 p.m. — Sentencing
Johnson-Carson was given four days in the county jail; he has already served them. He can seek expungement of his record since he is under the age of 25.
1:54 p.m. — Johnson-Carson addresses Mitchell’s family
Johnson-Carson addressed Mitchell’s family in court, expressing remorse for his involvement in Mitchell’s death.
“This tragedy is an incident of something that could have never been foreseen to take place in my life or imagine,” Johnson-Carson said. “I’m not a vengeful man, nor have I ever harbored hate in my heart for any person.”
1:40 p.m— Defense speaks
The defense highlighted Johnson-Carson’s remorse for his involvement in Mitchell’s death, as well as his being just 23 years old at the time of the incident.
1:37 p.m. —State reviews surveillance video
The state again reviewed surveillance cameras from the Hyatt Regency downtown showing the moments leading up to Mitchell’s death.
1:37 p.m. —Mitchell’s wife speaks
Mitchell’s wife, Deasia Harmon, was the only member of Mitchell’s family to speak during Johnson-Carson’s sentencing, where she expressed her disheartenment and disappointment with the sentences handed down.
“People here are only getting probation and are free to go, and they partook in murdering my husband,” Harmon said. “If it was anyone else, their families would want more.”
1:34 p.m — Court resumes
11:35 a.m. — Court breaks for lunch
Court breaks for lunch. Proceedings will resume at 1:30 p.m. for the sentencing hearing of Devin Johnson-Carson, a former bellhop.
11:30 a.m. — Williamson sentenced
Williamson was sentenced to 10 days in jail, which he has already served.
11:12 a.m. — Mitchell’s cousin speaks
Mitchell’s cousin was the only member of his family to speak during the second sentencing.
11:11 a.m. — Court resumes
The court proceedings resumed for the sentencing of Herbert Williamson, a former bellhop who pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of misdemeanor battery for his role in the death of Mitchell.
11:00 a.m. — Sentence stayed
The judge sentenced him to 12 months of probation, but if he violates the terms, he could serve a two-year sentence, with one year behind bars.
10:50 a.m. — Turner addresses Mitchell’s family
Turner addressed Mitchell’s family and apologized for his role in his death.
“I want to apologize to the Mitchell family for all this confusion and all of us being here,” Turner said. “This could’ve been easily avoided. Never intended for none of this to happen.”
10:45 a.m. — Defense asks for probation
Turner’s attorney argued that he has no prior criminal history and has complied with law enforcement and the justice system since he was charged.
10:30 a.m. — The state presents
The state played a 15-minute video from surveillance cameras inside the Hyatt Regency downtown, showing the moments leading up to Mitchell’s death. In the video, Brandon Turner can be seen beating Mitchell before other employees get on top of him and hold him on the ground for several minutes.
The state says Mitchell died during that time.
“We need to send a clear message that this kind of action will be prosecuted,” Assistant District Attorney Dan Flaherty said. “And it needs to send a message that human life has value, and no matter who a person is, where they come from, and what issue they’re struggling with.”
READ ALSO: Four former Milwaukee hotel employees to be sentenced in death of D’Vontaye Mitchell
10:00 a.m. — Witness speaks
Shawn Moore, who witnessed and filmed the incident, echoed those sentiments. Moore described the incident in court as an “execution.”
“He stopped beating him, but he wouldn’t get off his neck,” Moore recounted. “Instead of calling police, I watched the other supervisor order the other guards not to move.”
Moore detailed the moments he witnessed Mitchell taking his last breath and described the lasting impact the incident has had on him.
“Since that day, I wake up every night. I hear that, and I see their faces,” Moore said. “I don’t see D’Vontaye’s face no more. I see the faces of the people who killed him.”
9:35 a.m. — Mitchell’s mother speaks
Mitchell’s mother, Brenda Giles, spoke next, recounting the moments she learned of her son’s death, describing it as the “worst night” of her life. Giles called on the judge to hand down the maximum sentence for all four men involved.
“These men who murdered my son need to be held accountable. They don’t deserve any mercy,” Giles said. “It was clear on the video my son was begging for help.”
9:30 a.m. — Mitchell’s wife speaks
Deasia Harmon, Mitchell’s wife, was among the first to speak during the proceedings, expressing her anger over Turner’s role in her husband’s death and her frustration with what she called a lack of consequences.
“This man knew exactly what he was doing when he took my husband’s life, away from our children, from his mother,” Harmon said. “To sit here and know there is no consequence for this person’s actions is disheartening, and it’s disgusting.”
9:25 a.m. — Court begins
Brandon Turner, a former security guard, was the first to face sentencing in separate hearings scheduled throughout the day.
It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.
Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
