The man convicted of kidnapping, aggravated assault and other crimes at a Wal-Mart bathroom earlier this month was sentenced to life in prison plus 62 years Tuesday afternoon.
Stephen Mark Hall will likely spend the rest of his life in prison following the sentence handed down by Superior Court Judge Gates Peed.
"I'm relieved for the family," said Daphne Jarriel, assistant district attorney who prosecuted the case. "Hopefully this will provide some type of closure for Joy Adams and her family."
Adams and her granddaughter were in Wal-Mart's bathroom approximately three-and-a-half years ago when Hall attacked them, stinging her with a stun gun and acting "berserk," she testified at the trial.
He kept Adams and the child in the bathroom by holding the door closed despite efforts from other customers to enter the room. Another customer in the bathroom was able to grab the child and keep her safe while Adams tried to fend off Hall.
Eventually, other customers were able to force open the bathroom door, reach Adams' ankles and pull her to safety. Other customers then surrounded Hall until police arrived.
"I don't know that there's a sentence that's appropriate in this case because it was so hurtful," Jarriel said.
Hall sentence was lengthier than what the prosecution had been seeking. They'd recommended life in prison plus 55 years, suggesting to Peed that the misdemeanor counts of battery be served consecutively. But Peed decided to have him serve those consecutively, giving him the maximum possible sentence.
The defense had asked for life in prison plus 25 years.
Other crimes Hall was convicted of included terroristic threats, possession of a knife during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, cruelty to children and five counts of battery.
Prior to handing down the sentence, the court heard from Dr. Daniel Neller, who performed a mental examination of Hall prior to the trial. Neller testified that Hall suffered from pedophilia and other sexually deviant behaviors that, even with treatment, is not always curable.
Neller said studies don't definitively show one way or another if the treatment of sex offenders helps in the recidivism rate. He also testified that Hall indicated he would unlikely seek treatment in prison.
He said that Hall also fantasized about raping women and had a history of anti-social behavior.
Stephen Mark Hall will likely spend the rest of his life in prison following the sentence handed down by Superior Court Judge Gates Peed.
"I'm relieved for the family," said Daphne Jarriel, assistant district attorney who prosecuted the case. "Hopefully this will provide some type of closure for Joy Adams and her family."
Adams and her granddaughter were in Wal-Mart's bathroom approximately three-and-a-half years ago when Hall attacked them, stinging her with a stun gun and acting "berserk," she testified at the trial.
He kept Adams and the child in the bathroom by holding the door closed despite efforts from other customers to enter the room. Another customer in the bathroom was able to grab the child and keep her safe while Adams tried to fend off Hall.
Eventually, other customers were able to force open the bathroom door, reach Adams' ankles and pull her to safety. Other customers then surrounded Hall until police arrived.
"I don't know that there's a sentence that's appropriate in this case because it was so hurtful," Jarriel said.
Hall sentence was lengthier than what the prosecution had been seeking. They'd recommended life in prison plus 55 years, suggesting to Peed that the misdemeanor counts of battery be served consecutively. But Peed decided to have him serve those consecutively, giving him the maximum possible sentence.
The defense had asked for life in prison plus 25 years.
Other crimes Hall was convicted of included terroristic threats, possession of a knife during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, cruelty to children and five counts of battery.
Prior to handing down the sentence, the court heard from Dr. Daniel Neller, who performed a mental examination of Hall prior to the trial. Neller testified that Hall suffered from pedophilia and other sexually deviant behaviors that, even with treatment, is not always curable.
Neller said studies don't definitively show one way or another if the treatment of sex offenders helps in the recidivism rate. He also testified that Hall indicated he would unlikely seek treatment in prison.
He said that Hall also fantasized about raping women and had a history of anti-social behavior.