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HAMILTON — A man spit, cursed and tried to interrupt court proceedings Wednesday, June 11, after a judge sentenced him to life in prison without parole for his part in a West Chester Twp. slaying.

The courtroom erupted when Butler County Common Pleas Judge Craig Hedric announced the sentence against Michael Douglass, 18, of Middletown. A male family member cursed at Hedric and charged the front of the courtroom before deputies subdued him.

Douglass spit at the judge, prompting Hedric to adjourn until the courtroom was cleared. Deputies grabbed Douglass just as he tried to run, despite having on handcuffs and shackles.

When Douglass was brought back into court for the rest of the sentencing, he was seated in the jury box alone and surrounded by deputies.

As Hedric continued the sentencing on the lesser counts, Douglass cursed at the judge continually.

Douglass is the second teenager convicted in the stabbing death of Sabyasachi Debnath, a native of Bangladesh.

He entered into a plea agreement May 15, pleading guilty to aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, kidnapping, theft, tampering with evidence, and breaking and entering.

The plea came two weeks after a jury found co-defendant Amber Rodriguez guilty of aggravated robbery, kidnapping, aggravated burglary and aggravated murder in the same killing.

The 16-year-old girl was tried as an adult.

She also faces a possibility of life in prison without parole and is scheduled to be sentenced today, June 12.

A third teen charged, Roger Whitten of Hamilton, will go to trial in August.

As part of Douglass' plea agreement, the six lesser charges will run concurrent to the murder charge.

Before sentencing, Douglass' sister, mother and grandmother spoke on his behalf, asking the judge to consider a lesser sentence. When the sentence was announced, they erupted in sobs.

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