Kemel Richardson rejects plea offer in fatal Rome Denny's stabbing

By By JOLEEN FERRIS

Story Created: Apr 23, 2008 at 11:05 AM EST

Story Updated: Apr 23, 2008 at 11:29 AM EST

UTICA - One of the men charged in a fatal fight in Rome that killed two people last month has rejected a plea offer.

Danny Hernandez and Judson Watkins were killed in the fight that happened outside Denny's Restaurant in Rome last month. Kemel Richardson is one of three people charged. He's the first to answer a plea offer from the district attorney's office.

Richardson turned down the offer of 15 years in prison in exchange for a guilty plea to manslaughter in the first-degree. The judge warned him: his exposure at trial is much longer.

"Seriously, you could receive it looks like upwards of 100 years here, do you understand that?" asked Judge Barry Donalty. "If you do not take this offer today you will not see it again, do you understand?"

A second man, Jameen Kelly, will answer a plea offer Thursday in Oneida County Court.

A third man, Joshua Diggs, will answer a plea offer in May.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

What's On