WASHINGTON — He says he did not intend to hurt anyone.
No one was seriously hurt in any of the incidents.
Manuel Joyner-Bell entered an Alford plea Friday to charges connected to the bottle bomb blasts that sent people running from theaters in Silver Spring and Hanover. That means he does not admit his guilt, but acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict.
He already pleaded guilty to similar charges related to destructive devices in Prince George’s County, as well as assault charges related to people splashed by the acidic chemical reaction he mixed in the bottles to set them off.
His lawyer argued that it was a bad prank inspired by YouTube videos and shows like Jackass that do not show the consequences, but prosecutors pointed to text messages from Joyner-Bell to a friend who is charged with helping him get to and from theaters where the blasts took place.
One text message said “S[##]t, those white folks ran”.
Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks calls the 18-year sentence “completely appropriate”.
“This case terrorized people,” she says.
His lawyer asked for a sentence of 18 months, plus probation, because he said he was sure Joyner-Bell now understands what he did was wrong, especially after being held in jail already for nearly a year.
Joyner-Bell still faces separate charges in Virginia for incidents in Alexandria and Tysons Corner.
“If he was remorseful, he wouldn’t have done it five different times,” Alsobrooks said after the sentencing.
“Every aspect of this was disturbing, a person, again, who took glee in watching people feel frightened, and that was the intent of this,” Alsobrooks added.
Joyner-Bell’s sister and mother cried as the judge announced the sentence.
None of the people who were in one of the movie theaters when the blasts went off we’re in the courtroom.
