Columbus man sentenced to life without parole for murder he committed at 16

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — More than a month after a Muscogee County jury convicted Mayel Porter of killing 16-year-old Joshua Huff, Superior Court Judge Maureen Gottfried handed down the sentence Monday.

Only 16 years old at the time of 2022 murder, Porter will spend the rest of his life in a Georgia prison.

“I feel for the families and friends on both sides,” Gottfried said. “I truly believe that these young men were not raised to do these type of things. I believe that they were raised in homes that have values and a sense of right and wrong, and that this happened despite that.”

That is how Gottfried summed up the murder of Joshua Huff on Cross Tie Court in 2022. She spoke those words just before she sentenced Mayel Porter to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Porter was the only of the three co-defendants found guilty of murder.

Gregory Harris was sentenced to 35 years in prison for his role in the crime. He was convicted of armed robbery and aggravated assault.

Huff’s family asked the judge for the maximum punishment.

Porter and Harris’ families asked the court for mercy. Here’s what Gottfried said to Harris.

“You will have the opportunity to get out and do those things that people think that you can do,” Gottfried said. “But it will be your choice whether you get out, when you get out, and what you do with yourself. But your family, I’m assuming, are still going to be seeing you and they’re still going to be there for you, your family and your friends.”

Huff was 16 when he was shot to death. Porter was 16 years old and seven months. Harris was 15 years old and 8 months at the time.

Chief Assistant District Attorney Wesley Lambertus said he was struck by the age of everyone involved in this case.

“The fact that they were 16 and 15 when this happened really speaks to just how morally depraved our society has become,” he said. “And the fact that now you have these young teenagers think that they can do things that adults do. And it’s just a shame because they’re now having to pay for it. Mayel Porter for the rest of his life and Gregory Harris for the significant portion of his life.”

The jury acquitted Malik Lewis and Harris of Huff’s murder. Kaleb Gosha was charged with carjacking and other crimes. He was set to enter a guilty plea before the trial. Authorities are searching for him.