January 15, 2015
Philadelphia Police Department/for PhillyVoice
Philadelphia Police Department mugshot
The 16-year-old girl responsible for hitting a Temple University student multiple times in the face with a brick has been sentenced to two-and-a-half to six years in state prison.
Zaria Estes, of Roxborough, was playing "knock a bitch down" with her friends near 17th and Norris streets in March 2014 when she targeted Abbey Luffey, a student. Luffey suffered a broken jaw, palate and teeth.In addition to Estes' prison sentence, she will pay $400 in restitution and serve four years of probation for aggravated assault, conspiracy and possession of an instrument of crime. Her probation will include 200 hours of community service.
Assistant District Attorney Paul Goldman requested a sentence of five to 10 years for Estes — and defense attorney Bill Davis sought house arrest — but a compromise was reached due to Estes age.
According to philly.com, Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Erdos said Estes' crime demanded a tough penalty, but less than 10 years was granted because of the possibility of rehabilitation.
Estes read a letter of apology to Luffey during the hearing:
"I lost my self-control and let my anger get control of me," she said. "I have anger management issues. I am 100 percent willing to get help ... I am so sorry and I sincerely apologize for my mistake."
Luffey's mother, Heather, was unimpressed with the apology.
"How would you feel if someone did that to you? . . . That's not a mistake. A mistake is an accident. This was a cold, premeditated act."
The two other girls accompanying Estes, Najee Bilal, 16, and Kanesha Gainey, 15, were tried as juveniles in Family Court because they used fists during the attack, as opposed to a brick, Philadelphia Magazine reports.
Davis plans on appealing an earlier ruling, deeming Estes would be tried as an adult.
