former Florida Coach gets 90 day jail sentence in one punch death at O’Sheas

former Florida coach gets 90 day jail sentence plus probation

Benjamin Gerard Hawkins was already found guilty last year and many were rooting for the former Florida coach believing that he acted in self defense.

Hawkins was at the O’Sheas Casino on the Las Vegas strip, back in July, 2011, when he was involved in an altercation with John Massie, 39, who was from Utah, in one of the casino restrooms.

Witnesses to the incident have said they heard comments about a “black man in a yellow shirt”.  Hawkins is black and was wearing  a yellow short.

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Hawkins said that when he was exiting the restroom that Massey was waiting for him and words were exchanged.

He then turned around to walk back to the blackjack table to join his wife and their friends when Massie, as observed on a casino surveillance video, took two steps towards Hawkins.

Hawkins said that he felt threatened when he sensed he was being followed, knew it was Massey and turned around and threw a punch.

That punch turned out to be deadly because Massie fell and hit his head.

After being convicted of involuntary manslaughter, Hawkins was allowed to await his sentencing in Florida leading some to believe that he would perhaps receive a sentence of probation.

The former Florida coach who said he was only defending himself will serve 90 days in jail to be served at the Clark County Detention Center.

After his 90 day jail sentence is complete, he will be placed on 5 years of probation, which he will be allowed to serve in Gainesville, FL

Hawkins lost his job as high school football coach after his arrest.

In court, at his sentencing, he apologized to Massie’s family.

He could have faced up to 4 years in jail.

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