Long Prison Sentences for Teen Murderers

Two Peoria-area teens will likely be spending the rest of their lives in prison:

Zaveon Marks, 15, was sentenced to 45 years in prison for the 2019 murder of 16-year old Zarious Fair. Zaveon was charged as an adult. Circuit Court Judge Katherine Gorman made the legal finding that the 15-year old was particularly depraved and beyond the possibility of rehabilitation.

Circuit Judge Katherine Gorman said the shooting was senseless and unnecessary. She told Marks the community needed to feel safe from being shot by juveniles carrying handguns.

“I hope you prove me wrong, Mr. Marks, and that you take advantage of the opportunities that you will have while in custody,” Judge Gorman said.

The next day, Jermontay Brock was sentenced to 60 years in prison for the murder of two people at a Bradley University party in the summer of 2018. One of the victims, Nasjay Murry, grew up on the southside of Chicago, and chose Bradley University in Peoria because she thought she would be safe from the violence that plagued her neighborhood.

“During the sentencing hearing, the judge in this case, Paul Gilfillan, had harsh words for Brock. He called him a ‘seasoned criminal’ who wreaked havoc on society. For about 15 minutes, Gilfillan read through Brock’s troubled past, including violence at Peoria Public Schools and disturbing behavior at the Juvenile Detention Center in Peoria County. The judge referenced one instance when Brock apparently threw fecal matter at an officer.”

WEEK News

“At his trial, prosecutors said Brock wanted to make a name for himself within the Bomb Squad, one of the area’s most notorious street gangs, so when he saw a rival gang member at the party, he shot him.”

Andy Kravetz. Peoria Journal Star.

Both of these cases involved minors committing senseless acts of violence that ended in the tragic deaths of people. Both judges in these cases found the teens to be particularly depraved and therefore beyond the possibility of rehabilitation. This legal opinion is necessary in order to charge minors with anything over 40 years. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that life sentences for juveniles violated the 8th Amendment; and, the Illinois Supreme Court has found anything over 40 years is considered a life sentence and would not include juveniles except in cases where a legal finding is made that the juvenile is beyond the possibility of rehabilitation. However, both will be eligible for parole after 20 years.

Incarcerating juveniles for life is especially expensive. It costs $38,000 a year to incarcerate a person in Illinois. After the age of fifty, the cost typically doubles.¹ If Zaveon Marks serves his full sentence he’ll be released at age 60, and will have cost the taxpayers $2,090,000. If Jermontay Brock serves his full sentence he’ll be in his mid-70s by the time of his release and will have cost taxpayers $3,268,000.

For more on juvenile murderers, see my article To Adult or Not To Adult.

1. Josh. “Juvenile Life Without Parole: An Overview.” 2019.