PANAMA CITY — Javares Cameron, convicted of manslaughter in the death of 17-year-old Curtis Hunt, was sentenced to 25 years in prison Monday afternoon.
The 19-year-old, who shot Hunt in the back of the head in broad daylight Oct. 14, 2014, will serve 25 years in prison followed by five years of probation.
Before he was sentenced Cameron apologized to Hunt’s mother, Kwanis Hunt.
“I know that it’s too soon to ask for forgiveness, but I’d just like you to know that honestly I’m sorry,” he said.
Cameron told Hunt that he “never had any problems” with her son and that he was sorry things happened the way they did that day. Before sentencing, Cameron said he still had plans for the future and hoped to contribute to society.
Cameron’s mother, Melissa Dunklin also apologized to Hunt during the sentencing, saying she blamed herself and she “obviously failed as a mother.”
“Ms. Hunt, I’m so sorry and I feel responsible. I feel just as responsible as Javares because I didn’t raise him this way,” Dunklin said. “We raised him to respect life.”
Hunt was emotional when she addressed the court about her son.
“He never hurt nobody. He was a joyful person. He loved everybody,” she said.
To Cameron, she said that right now she did not forgive him.
“I don’t know what your intentions were, but I’m gonna pray for you,” Hunt said.
Cameron’s attorney, Kim Jewell, lobbied for an easier sentencing because of Cameron’s lack of trouble with law enforcement before moving to Bay County, calling him bright and intelligent.
“I think he went in a wrong direction,” she said.
Prosecutor Bob Sombathy painted a more sinister picture, saying that Cameron shot a person in the back of the head and should serve the full sentence.
“He then did everything he could to avoid getting caught,” Sombathy said.
Along with 25 years in prison Cameron was also ordered to complete 500 community service hours and pay $5000 in restitution and $1,077 in other costs.
At the request of both mothers, Circuit Judge Michael Overstreet agreed to recommend a faith-based facility for Cameron’s incarceration.