JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Nearly two years after beating and stomping on an Atlantic Beach Police Department officer, the man responsible was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 10 years' probation, far less than the life sentence he was facing.
The plea deal came after the victim, former Officer T. Stafford and his assailant, Jaden Perkins, met in person to discuss the incident and its aftermath. Stafford supported the negotiated sentence.
In court, a prosecutor read a victim impact statement read for Stafford, in which he said he forgave Perkins. "Although I will never forget the horrible attack that occurred on July 16, Jaden Perkins, I do forgive you, and hope that God blesses you and your family."
Jaden Perkins, now 21, admitted assaulting outside an Atlantic Boulevard Panera on the morning of July 16, 2020. The officer was beaten unconscious and ultimately required facial reconstructive surgery.
Nineteen at the time of the brutal attack, Perkins publicly apologized after the incident, saying he’d taken acid with friends for the first time the night before and experienced a severe dissociative reaction to the drug. He said he remembers nothing of the early morning attack.
In his victim impact statement, Stafford recounted the conditions he continues to endure because of the attack, including traumatic brain injury, neurological injuries, a cervical spine injury, a spinal cord injury and a torn rotator cuff.
"The senseless attack and sustained injuries have had a profound impact on every facet of my life," his statement read. "There is not a day that goes by that is not directly affected by this senseless attack on July 16 2020. I pray daily for everyone that this incident has affected, including you Jaden Perkins, I pray for my family and friends as they have lost a lot of the person that I used to be. I pray for you Jaden Perkins and your family is I know they have lost a lot of the person that you used to be. I pray that God uses your life and mine to have a positive impact on the lives of those around us. I refuse to live with hate or anger on my mind or in my heart."
Perkins also spoke briefly. "I just want to say thank you for giving me an opportunity to improve myself and to become a better man," he said. "I will always remember our conversation and I want you to know my words means something. I will work from this day to become a better man and to help whoever I can along the way. And I hope you can still find some sort of joy."
In a series of exclusive jailhouse interviews with First Coast News, Perkins, who was shot by police, said when he regained consciousness in the hospital, officers had to tell him what happened. “I went straight to praying for him, just hoping he was OK,” Perkins said.
Perkins said he hoped his story might help other teens from making bad decisions
“See me,” he said. “See what this did to me … and change.”