18-year-old sentenced today in Officer Davis assault

Jose Rockiett, 18, who assaulted and seriously injured Cedar Rapids Police Officer Tim Davis last March, will be sentenced at 2 p.m. today in Linn County District Court.

Gazette reporter Trish Mehaffey will cover the sentencing live from the courtroom.

Rockiett pleaded guilty last month to two counts of second-degree robbery and one count each of willful injury and interference with official acts. He robbed and assaulted David Scanlon, 20, and Austin Switalski at A Avenue and 16th Street NE on March 29. Scanlon received bruises and cuts and Switalski received minor injuries.

Rockiett also knocked Davis unconscious when the officer responded to the robbery. Davis' skull was fractured, and he spent several weeks in the hospital.

According to the plea agreement, 10-year prison terms for the two robbery charges will run concurrently, and the willful injury and interference charges, 15 years each, will run after that for a total of 25 years.

Maurice Harden, 15, of Cedar Rapids, also has pleaded guilty in the robbery and also will be sentenced for first-degree robbery and interference with official acts causing serious injury against Scanlon. The other 15-year-old, Robert Watkins III, involved in the robbery pleaded guilty and was sentenced last year.