Judge Defends 35-Year Sentence For Karmelo Anthony, Calls Him 'Nice Young Man' Amid Racial Backlash

The judge who presided over the high-profile Texas teen murder trial has defended the jury’s 35-year sentence for Karmelo Anthony, saying he can still sleep “well at night” and describing the defendant as a “nice young man” who committed a crime.

Judge Stands By Verdict

Judge John Roach Jr. told a local television station that he believes the jury reached the correct verdict and that Collin County’s handling of the trial could serve as a model for other jurisdictions. Roach denied rumors of personal ties to the victim’s family and faced criticism after declining to allow news cameras in the courtroom.

The Case And Trial

Anthony, 19, was convicted of murder by a jury and sentenced to 35 years after the April 2025 stabbing death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a Frisco school-district track meet. Anthony was tried as an adult under Texas law.

Defense attorneys said Anthony acted in self-defense after being physically confronted by a larger member of the opposing team. Prosecutors countered that Anthony escalated a minor confrontation by producing a folding knife and stabbing Metcalf in the chest; Metcalf died shortly afterward. Witness accounts and police reports were central to the jury’s deliberations.

Public Reaction, Race And Jury Composition

Although prosecutors said in opening statements that the case “has nothing to do with race” and the victim’s father publicly rejected racial framing, the trial quickly became a focal point of national online debate over race, justice and how young people are treated in the criminal legal system.

Critics noted that reporting indicated the jury included several minorities but no Black jurors, and some public figures — including rapper Cardi B and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) — condemned the sentence. Supporters of both families rallied outside the Collin County Courthouse, and two arrests were reported during demonstrations.

Threats, Misinformation And Comparisons

Both families have reported receiving death threats. Anthony’s father said his family has been harassed, and the victim’s father, Jeff Metcalf, said he received multiple threatening messages. The case also spawned a wave of misinformation online, including forged documents and impersonated social accounts, and prompted a large online legal-defense fundraiser.

Observers drew comparisons to the Kyle Rittenhouse case — another trial involving a 17-year-old who claimed self-defense — with supporters of Anthony arguing that perceived racial double standards shaped public reaction. Critics of the comparison said the legal circumstances differ materially.

Community Context

The episode has amplified longstanding tensions in Frisco, a rapidly growing Dallas-area suburb. Census and local reporting show significant demographic change in recent years, and local political disputes over immigration and race have been widely reported, contributing to a charged community atmosphere around the trial.

Key Facts: Anthony was convicted and sentenced to 35 years; the defense argued self-defense; reporting indicated no Black jurors on the panel; protests and national commentary followed the verdict; both families received threats.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com.