Texas Judge Defends 35-Year Sentence in Karmelo Anthony Murder Case Amid Racial Debate
Judge John Roach Jr. said he has no regrets about sentencing 19-year-old Karmelo Anthony to 35 years for a 2025 stabbing, while community leaders and families continue to dispute the verdict’s fairness.
A Collin County judge upheld a 35-year prison term for 19-year-old Karmelo Anthony, who was convicted of stabbing a 17-year-old classmate during a school track meet in April 2025. Judge John Roach Jr. told reporters he can sleep "well at night" and expressed no remorse about the sentence.
Anthony’s father, Andrew Anthony, described the outcome as "unfortunate" and suggested the verdict might have differed with a more racially diverse jury, noting that no Black jurors were seated. Civil-rights activist Dominique Alexander said the verdict showed that "Black lives do not matter in Collin County," while the local NAACP questioned the fairness and representation of the jury.
The victim’s father, Jeff Metcalf, argued that Anthony should have received life imprisonment and pledged to oppose any parole. State Rep. Jared Patterson said the case should prompt community healing, and city councilor Burt Thakur stated that "justice was served."
Both families reported receiving death threats following the trial. The case has been compared by some commentators to the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, with supporters claiming racial bias influenced the differing outcomes, while others note the legal circumstances are not directly comparable.
The incident stemmed from a confrontation at a school tent during a rainstorm, where Anthony allegedly drew a knife after being told to leave the shelter. Police reports say Anthony admitted to the stabbing and claimed self-defense.
Online discourse surrounding the case featured misinformation, including fabricated autopsy reports and a fake social-media account impersonating the Frisco police chief, while a fundraising campaign for Anthony’s legal defense raised substantial funds.