Circuit Judge Rom Trader sentenced a former standout McKinley High School football player Tuesday to six months of probation and 100 hours of community service in connection with an assault that resulted in the death of an Ewa Beach man.
Gerime Bradley, 19, had been indicted on a manslaughter charge in connection with the death of 38-year-old John Howard, who died a day after he was knocked to the ground in a fight outside his Ewa Beach home. In February a jury acquitted Bradley of manslaughter and found him guilty of the lesser charge of third-degree assault, a petty misdemeanor, because both men participated in the fight.
Myles Breiner, Bradley’s attorney, said his client was given credit for time served for the 23 days he spent in jail. Breiner said the state also sought $16,000 in restitution for Howard’s medical bills, but the judge declined the request because the fight was mutual.
Deputy Prosecutor Scott Bell argued for the maximum jail time of 30 days and said in a sentencing memorandum that Howard posed no threat to Bradley after Bradley drove past him on a street, but Bradley parked his car and walked back to confront Howard.
According to a police affidavit, Bradley drove by Howard with two other men in his car as Howard stood in the middle of the street, "yelling and swearing at them" and blocking traffic shortly after midnight March 23, 2014.
The affidavit said Howard tried to punch Bradley through the vehicle’s open window, then Bradley parked his car, walked back to Howard and kicked him in the chest, knocking him to the ground. Howard died of head injuries the following day.
Breiner said Bradley made a tearful apology to the Howard family, who met with the Bradley family after the sentencing and exchanged sympathies.
Bradley was a senior at McKinley at the time and played running back for the school’s varsity football team. His senior year, he finished third in rushing in the Oahu Interscholastic Association’s football league.
Breiner said Bradley will try to complete his community service in the next four to six weeks and then seek a shorter probation so he can attend junior varsity football practice in June with the City College of San Francisco.
