Teen sentenced for her part in assault

A teenager was sentenced to spend 10 years in prison for her partin a robbery and assault that left a man brain damaged.

Telisa Renee McCauley of Mary Street was one of three people whoattacked Robert "Jeff" Moore, 53, of Charleston as he walked throughBrawley Walkway in May 2010. Moore was in a coma for 56 days andcontinues to require daily assistance.

McCauley, Whitney Avery and Earl Moore (no relation) werearrested for the crime.

"I want to give my apologies to Mr. Moore's family as well asmine," McCauley said in court Thursday. "I pray every day for hisforgiveness."

She told the judge she had completed her GED, and said she didn'twant to grow up in prison.

It wasn't enough to sway Kanawha Circuit Judge Paul Zakaib, whosaid he didn't see remorse in the teenager.

Zakaib said, "The defendant always had excuses for her conductand laying the blame on others. She has no meaningful remorse. Shewas asked to help rob the victim and did not hesitate and when hewas hit she relieved the victim of his wallet."

Police said the robbers took $40 from Moore's wallet after hefell to the sidewalk, striking his head. They left him bleeding andfled the scene.

But McCauley's court-appointed defense attorney, CharlesHamilton, said if it weren't for her cooperation the other twoattackers would not have been caught.

"I would like the court to consider that Telisa did not lay ahand on Mr. Moore," Hamilton said. "About a week later, she went tothe barbershop of Earl Moore wearing a wire, with her own personalsafety in jeopardy and broke this case open.

"The only reason anybody knows what happened is because of her,"he said. Hamilton asked for McCauley to be sent to the AnthonyCenter for Youthful Offenders.

Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer Meadows told the judge that thestate was willing to recommend the minimum prison sentence of 10years.

"She saw how badly he was hurt and did not call 911," Meadowssaid.

Avery was sentenced to the Anthony Center and Moore, who hit thevictim, received a 50-year prison sentence.

The victim suffered a severe brain injury and spent time in anout-of-state brain trauma rehabilitation clinic in Ohio. But hisbrother, Sam Moore, said he might need daily assistance for a longtime.

McCauley and Avery were also involved in the attack of anotherman around the same time period. Police said McCauley pulled a knifein that incident.

Before he was injured, Moore worked for West Virginia LegislativeServices for more than 24 years.