Vigilante justice assault suspects arraigned in Ardmore
Vigilante justice assault suspects arraigned in Ardmore Save Email Print
Posted: 1:19 PM Sep 3, 2008
Last Updated: 5:18 PM Sep 3, 2008
Reporter: KXII-TV Staff
Email Address: firstnews@kxii.com

A | A | A

ARDMORE, Okla. -- Two more young men accused of brutally spanking an Ardmore man in late July went before a judge on Wednesday.

Jeremy McGinnis, 18, and Ronnie Morris, 22, were formally arraigned Wednesday morning. They face assault and kidnapping charges.

Police say the two, along with two other suspects, beat a man more than 250 times with a leather studded belt in what they believe was an attempt at vigilante justice.

One of the identical twin brothers accused of a brutal attack was in an Ardmore courtroom Tuesday morning.

Colby Chase McGinnis, 18, is facing assault and battery charges after a July incident in which another young man was spanked more than 250 times with a studded leather belt. Authorities say the attack was an attempt at vigilante justice.

The incident happened July 23 at a home in the 900 block of west main in Ardmore. Investigators believe alleged ringleader 29-year-old Ronnie Morris was angry at the victim for allegedly forging hot checks in Morris' name. They say the trio of men confronted the victim, taking the law into their own hands, becoming judge and jury, and then giving the victim a choice of punishment ranging from dismemberment, to graphic mutilation, to hundreds of brutal lashes across the backside.

Police say Colby and Jeremiah McGinnis, both 18 years old, and Morris, took turns administering lashes to the unidentified victim.

"Out of 19 years in law enforcement , I haven't seen anyone spanked this severely like the victim was. He had severe bruising on his buttock areas," Capt. Kevin Woods of the Ardmore Police Department said in July.

Another suspect, Rolanda Braxton, pleaded guilty to assault and battery charges Wednesday afternoon and received a four year suspended sentence.

Braxton she was accused of hitting that victim in the head with a pipe before the brutal beating at the hands of three others.

Braxton will be required to serve six months of that sentence in the county jail.

Related Stories
Bizarre kidnapping in Ardmore

Vigilante justice assault suspect appears in Ardmore courtroom

Man brutally assaulted in Ardmore case of vigilante justice

More Stories
Bonham man drives stolen truck through VA nursing home's doors

Durant man, 25, found dead from stab wounds inside home

Couple with Texoma ties accused of digging up dead girl to appear in court

Suspect sought in Fairview Park robbery

Post Your Comments
First Name:
Location:
Enter Comments: characters left
Email (optional):
By posting this comment I have read and agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy:
You must agree to the Terms of Service to continue.
Read Comments
Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
Posted by: M.M. Location: Ardmore on Sep 10, 2008 at 11:57 PM
this "assault" is nothing more than school-yard b.s. the victum "as he appears" is not so helpless. there is always something that leads to a fall out and i wouldn't consider him to be so innocent In fact the only thing keeping him from being charged and thrown in jail is the fact that he was lucky enough to be injured and in a health care facility which gave him the opportunity to tell the detectives whatever story he wanted to, leading to the arrest of the others. Everyone just wants to cover their own back when it really comes down to it. And i would bet the two twins in jail would be completely honest if asked about the situation, who knows.

Posted by: David Location: Petaluma, CA on Sep 4, 2008 at 09:02 PM
Put 'em away forever! If the guy did do that, then they should have called the police. Both sides of this are WHY We have police! Did they somehow believe he would not call the police, himself? Dumdums! What a lack of elementary judgment. Most of these kinds of attacks---I believe---are done by people who ALREADY want to attack someone. They just look for a victim.

Posted by: its better in cabo on Sep 4, 2008 at 11:22 AM
I feel dumber having read crazygirls e-mail...Jeez

Posted by: OOTO Location: Texoma on Sep 4, 2008 at 09:37 AM
Jim: Even you say "if he did it." That of course, raises the speculation that there is room for doubt. This is why we have a justice system in this country. It is up to that system to decide anyone's innocence or guilt. It is definitely not the job of vigilantes.

Posted by: CRAZYGIRLS Location: SHERMAN on Sep 4, 2008 at 08:54 AM
BETH AND ASHLEY GET REAL! YOU TWO ARE EXACTLY WHY WE HAVE THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS. IF WE ALL WOULD TAKE MATTERS INTO OUR OWN HANDS THEN THESE LITTLE PUNKS WOULD BE AFRAID TO STEAL OR ROB OR MURDER OR RAPE. IF YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING WRONG YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.ALL THIS TRASH RUNS AROUND TOGETHER. YOU ARE GUILTY BY ASSOCIATION. THESE COPS NEED TO LET THESE KIDS GO, THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO IMPRESS SOMEONE. IF YOU CANNOT SEE WHY THESE GUYS DID THIS YOU ARE EITHER STUPID, DUMB, OR YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN VIOLATED. WITCH ONE IS IT GIRLS? S,D, OR NBV

Posted by: Ardmoreite Location: Ardmore on Sep 3, 2008 at 10:00 PM
These men are heroes! Let them go!

Posted by: carter cnty Location: OK on Sep 3, 2008 at 09:54 PM
I would have done all 3 if he stole my checks. Carter county sure want give justice to him, so they might as well themselves!! way to go

Posted by: sara Location: ardmore on Sep 3, 2008 at 06:26 PM
ha ha ha i know that guy that got beat... im sorry but he was given a choice... the beating or they could report him to the cops... the dummy chose the beating. so therefore it was his own damn fault. what a moron.

Posted by: Jim Location: denison on Sep 3, 2008 at 04:16 PM
eye for an eye. I bet he don't do that anymore LOL. If he did it he had it coming. Maybe if the boy's parents would have done it those guy's wouldn't have had to do it.

Posted by: Ashley Location: Sherman on Sep 3, 2008 at 03:30 PM
It isn't anybodys place but he police to handle this matter. Whether the guy really did it or not. There is no excuse for what they did.

Posted by: Beth Location: Durant on Sep 3, 2008 at 03:30 PM
I don't care what the man did NO one has the right to take the law into their own hands. Whats going to happen to this man if he is found innocent? You know.. not everyone is guilty just because someone says so. If I am not mistaken are we not innocent until we are proven guilty. If we start to let this kind of justice happen there is going to be alot of innocent people hurt.

Posted by: MM on Sep 3, 2008 at 01:40 PM
That is hilarious. If the man really forged the checks than he got what was coming to him. But if it wasn't him then Uh oh!

Doppler 12 Radar
AP Video on KXII
In The Community
Fall Foliage Vacation with Steve LaNore
Last Updated: 12:33 PM 06/05/09 - First News meteorologist Steve LaNore wants to invite KXII viewers to join him on an America the Beautiful tour through the breathtaking fall foliage of New England, October 1 to the 9th. You’ll spend two nights in Boston and rediscover colonial America during a fabulous tour of the city. (Full Story)
Tech Camp keeps Sherman kids learning this summer

Last Updated: 4:43 PM 06/22/09 - SHERMAN, TX -- Usually kids can't wait to get out of school for summer break, but some Sherman students are right back in class learning some fun new skills at Technology Camp, going on at Sory Elementary School this week . (Full Story)
Sherman I.S.D. Free Sport Camps
Last Updated: 3:00 PM 06/08/09 - SHERMAN, TX -- The SISD Curriculum, Instruction Department, and the SISD Athletic Department are teaming up to provide multi-sports camps to SISD students who will be promoting to grades 3-9. (Full Story)
Texas DPS reminds teens to drive safely this summer
Last Updated: 10:38 AM 06/17/09 - As summer begins, DPS reminds teens to play it safe while driving. In the U.S., motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens. Approximately 6,000 teens per year are killed in traffic crashes in this country—that’s the equivalent of one commercial airliner full of teens crashing every week. (Full Story)
KXII's Relay for Life Page
Last Updated: 11:46 AM 04/29/09 - KXII's Relay for Life Page has details on Relay For Life activites near you. Click on Full Story for details on how you can help fight cancer. (Full Story)
More Headlines