Three Face Sentences In Brutal July 2013 Cantonment Beating

May 5, 2014

Three defendants have now either been convicted or entered pleas in connection with a severe beating over the Fourth of July 2013 weekend in Cantonment.

Jordan Scott Garrett, now 18, was convicted of felony aggravated battery Tuesday by an Escambia County jury. He will remain free on bond until a late June sentencing by Judge Gary Bergosh. Clark was a 17-year old juvenile at the time of the incident, but was charged as an adult.

Zachary Nathan Clark, now 20, pleaded no contest to felony aggravated battery. He remains free on bond as he awaits sentencing in late June.

Kaleb Orion Willcutt, now 16, was 15 at the time of the beating and tried as an adult. He was adjudged delinquent and sentenced  to the Department of Juvenile Justice High Risk Program.

When Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the home in the 700 block of Jacks Branch Road in July 2013 they found 19-year old Glenn Widish  in the bathroom of the home, barely conscious, not able to talk and having difficulty breathing. Deputies reported his “face was swollen beyond recognition”.

Witnesses told deputies that the four teens were at the home, and Widish has been drinking shots of alcohol.  Garrett became angry with Widish over a song that was playing and punched him three times in the face, witnesses told deputies. After Garrett punched Widish again, they ended up on the ground where Clark grabbed Widish and held him. Garrett also held Widish’s feet and they told Willcutt to hit him, an arrest report states.

Willcutt hit Widish three times, while Clark and Garrett began kicking and punching him in the head, face, back and stomach, the report states.

“I hope you die on this property,” a witness told deputies Willcutt said.

Widish was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital as a “trauma alert”.  Deputies were originally unable to speak to him because he remained unconscious at a Sacred Heart Hospital. He suffered a fractured eye orbital, a fractured nose and was unable to maintain on open airway after the beating, according to the arrest report.

Comments

16 Responses to “Three Face Sentences In Brutal July 2013 Cantonment Beating”

  1. john on May 6th, 2014 10:50 pm

    It’s no surprise to me that when you read or hear about a violent crime almost always drugs or alcohol is being consumed.

    I thank my Lord Jesus Christ when he took the drugs and alcohol away, all the other problems that came with them went away as well.

    Yes, those young men should face hard time for what they did and pay restitution.

    And then after that,if they ever harm another soul i say send them to the Lord and let him deal with them.

  2. Gavan Talpas on May 6th, 2014 8:27 pm

    To Steve Perry I agree with what you are saying.

  3. Steve Perry on May 6th, 2014 4:28 pm

    Answering tbpcola: There is a big change of discipline 42 years ago when I was born and when theses PUNKS where. Parents and or guardians spoil these punks,buy and give them everything these days instead of getting a job or at least make them do work around the house (yard work, wash car, etc.) to earn their keep. The young ADULTS should just do these things out of self respect! Bottom line is what my previous comment said. Oh,when I got in a fight back in the day, in was one on one! And usually within a months time we had a beer together not a court date.

  4. Rouge on May 6th, 2014 3:04 pm

    Update on Widish – He has suffered permanent damage to his brain, requiring with short term memory loss. The side of the face that was caused the most damage droops, and he has a hard time completing thoughts and sentences. He has put the tragic, almost death experience behind him as much as he can. He is being a wonderful father, brother, and son to his family – as well as making sure to not waste this second chance that he has at life.

    - These 3 men, no boys, they were considered men when they thought they had the power to try and take someone’s life – regardless of the reason. Should be shown consequences that they have shown Widish, which is something that is only considered fair, seemingly that they weren’t the ones that have now required a life standing injury. If punishment, no matter the extent, isn’t announced with these boys, they might actually succeed into doing something like this again to anyone’s son, brother, husband, or friend. If your child does something that you know is wrong, your supposed to spank them, and let them know to never to it again – just because they were under the influence, or these boys are trying to apologize doesn’t justify the things that they placed upon Widish.

    Lastly, if they decided to learn from their actions they would accept any punishment that they are handed. Just because you aren’t fully considered an adult, doesn’t mean that you get to act like one – drinking, fighting, drugs – and then want to get a slap on the wrist like you’re a child.

    I hope that Widish and his family seek peace through these tough times ahead, and I hope these three boys learn to play nice.

  5. tbpcola on May 6th, 2014 11:26 am

    Question for Steve Perry:

    Where were the parents, or adults, responsible for the behavior of all of these boys?

  6. Morgan Long on May 6th, 2014 8:49 am

    i miss &love you Kaleb, keep your head up<3

  7. ME on May 6th, 2014 7:23 am

    @ Steve, you got that right, the paddle or Dads Leather belt, without the fear of that child calling the cops. Society has gone down the toilet due to all the laws others (the few) decide are best for us(the majority).

  8. James Broel on May 6th, 2014 6:30 am

    Steve Perry I agree on one of your two points. Parents are to blame for this behavior. And kids today have very little respect for each other much less anything older. You can still say a prayer at school but I don’t want a single spoken prayer to cover our religious diversity.

  9. Steve Perry on May 5th, 2014 8:41 pm

    Reply for (T): Simple answer. The paddle (with holes drilled in them) along with God have been taken out of schools.

  10. mick on May 5th, 2014 6:00 pm

    Prison for all.. let them learn a hard lesson.

  11. Brittany on May 5th, 2014 5:48 pm

    They were really good kids. I really hope this gives them the reality check they need to change.

  12. Michael on May 5th, 2014 5:13 pm

    Apparently they didn’t through the book too hard – out on bail for another 2 months?Let ‘em do it again.

  13. barrineau on May 5th, 2014 4:34 pm

    Throw the book at them…..hard !

  14. T on May 5th, 2014 8:17 am

    What is happening to our society? Our world?
    Criminals are getting younger and younger!
    It’s heartbreaking :(

  15. Robert S. on May 5th, 2014 7:25 am

    Recall reading about this — any update on how Widish is today?

    Guess it made them big tough-guy men to have 3 on 1 in a fight.
    Sounds like more than a song provoked things here.

    Wonder how the judge will decide to remediate these 3 individuals?

  16. billy on May 5th, 2014 2:41 am

    Hang em high