A judge rejected a request on Friday to reduce the 45-year prison term handed down in September for Anthony Grampsas in the December 2018 slaying of Egerton Dover.
Defense lawyer Stephanie Wong argued the state failed to prove that Grampsas possessed a weapon during the incident at Dover’s home. The weapons allegation added 15 years to the sentence.
The sentence “is excessive given his age and the facts and circumstances of this case,” said Wong.
The 20-year old defendant wore a mask and shackles during the brief hearing.
Grampsas, 20, was one of three defendants in Dover’s slaying. Tyjuan Bruce, 22, was convicted of murder in September and is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 21. A third man, Curtis Hairston, 18, died during an unrelated shooting in January 2019 in Decatur.
Authorities claim Grampsas drove the other two suspects to Dover’s Bloomington home for a drug-related robbery. The four men had been at a gathering earlier in the evening where Dover talked about a large amount of marijuana he expected to purchase, according to police.
Grampsas was accused under accountability statutes that allow a person to be charged with murder if a death occurs during the commission of a forcible felony. He was acquitted of robbery charges.
In his denial of the defense motion for a reduced sentence, Judge Scott Drazewski said sentencing decisions “are probably the most difficult for a judge. They are not taken lightly.”
Drazewski said he is satisfied the 45-year term he imposed in Grampsas’ case is appropriate.
Wong asked that a notice of appeal be filed, and that the state appellate defender be named to represent Grampsas.
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