Suspect to 5Pts. Beating Victim: ‘I’m Sorry’

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — In Richland County Family Court, two teenagers faced a judge for their role in the savage beating of a local teenager back in June and brought the courtroom to tears with a personal apology to the victim. The two minors, a 16-year-old and 17-year-old, received house arrest, a community evaluation and will be subjected to random drug tests in connection with their part in the Father’s Day assault on 17-year-old Carter Strange. Strange was beaten nearly to death, police say, by four of eight teens who are said to be involved. Two other teens were also sentenced to house arrest earlier this week. A 16-year-old and a 19-year-old are said to be the ringleaders and will face a jury trial. Meanwhile, two remaining teens are still behind bars until it is determined if they will be tried as adults. Tears were shed in the courtroom Thursday as the 17-year-old hugged and tearfully apologized to each family member present and to the victim himself. Carter strange says he knew that particular teen ‘didn’t belong in that group’ and that he should have been let go a long time ago. He says is he happy the closure process is beginning but that the four young people still being investigated should ‘get justice.’