Melissa Winters said she'd never heard screams like those of her cousin, Shane Scott, when his severe burns were being cleaned.
"I had to hear this boy scream like I've never heard anybody scream in my whole life," Winters, of Freedom, Beaver County, said in an Indiana County courtroom yesterday. "That boy has to suffer through the rest of his life."
Duane Getty cannot get the image of Scott engulfed in flames out of his mind.
After those and other victim-impact statements were heard Friday, Keith Walsh was sentenced to 6 to 15 years in prison by Indiana County Judge William Martin.
Walsh, 39, of Mars, Butler County, was accused of throwing five gallons of gasoline on a campfire in October 2005 in the parking lot of the Challenger Raceway, Young Township.
Scott, 16, of Ambridge, Beaver County, was sitting near the campfire and suffered burns over more than 70 percent of his body. Getty, of Cranberry, Butler County, suffered minor burns.
Testimony during a preliminary hearing in 2005 indicated that Walsh threw the gas on the fire because he thought his friends were taunting him. In November, he decided to forgo a trial and pleaded guilty to two felony counts of aggravated assault.
Walsh's attorney, Richard E. Goldinger, of Butler, sought a lighter sentence for his client to be served at a local jail, eventually leading to work release. Goldinger cited hardships for Walsh's 17-year-old son; Walsh is the primary parent in the teen's life.
"We realize it's a long shot," Goldinger said. "He did not intend for this to happen. He's extremely remorseful. He wishes it was him who was burned and not this boy and Mr. Getty."
Walsh was visibly emotional during yesterday's proceedings. He received hugs from family members before hearing his sentence.
Scott, a sophomore at Ambridge Area High School, still has scars from his burns and walks with the aid of a crutch.
"I look out at kids playing outside. I can't do that any more," Scott said. "I don't get to do the things normal teens get to do. I don't understand why this happened."
Scott spent months recuperating in special burn units in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. He was one of four people who gave victim-impact statements yesterday.
Getty has vivid memories of that fateful night.
"To see Shane coming through the field in a big ball of flames is something I've seen in my dreams," Getty said. "I'm over my burns. He'll never get over his."
Before offering his ruling, Martin said Walsh acted with "gross and criminal negligence."
"Any lesser sentence would only minimize the seriousness of these offenses," Martin said. Scott "has been robbed of youth. Doing anything children his age can achieve is beyond his ability."
Martin sentenced Walsh to 3 to 9 years at a state correctional institution on the first charge and 3 to 6 years on the second charge. He levied a fine of $1,000 and court costs amounting to $109.50.
Walsh was taken out of the courtroom by county sheriffs.
Scott and members of his family said they were pleased with yesterday's outcome.
"We waited a long time for this," said Michelle Scott, Shane's mother. "It would never be enough for us, but the judge gave us as much as he could. He definitely did well by us. Our prayers were answered (yesterday). We hope (Walsh) thinks about what he's done and gets the help he needs."
