year ago, 26-plus years on the bench. this is one of the worst cases i've seen. each one of the four defendants here pled guilty to criminal sexual conduct. first degree and whether they participated directly or were aiders and abetters, there's no difference in the law. all four defendants were clearly involved. any one of you could have intervened and stopped short of a really horrific criminal sexual assault. >> though each of the four men has agreed to a plea that allows for maximum sentences, they have banked on the judge being lenient. the first to be sentenced is rederick melton. >> first of all, on armed robbery, sentence of this court that you be committed to the