By Darrick Ignasiak
The Dispatch
DAVIDSON COUNTY, N.C.— Davidson County Superior Court Judge Lynn S. Gullett sentenced 71-year-old Portugal Byas to 15-19 years in prison. He pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder.
Under the plea agreement, the charges of first-degree arson and assault inflicting serious body injury were dismissed. If convicted of those three charges, he could have been sentenced to over 30 years in prison, a spokeswoman with the Davidson County District Attorney’s Office said.
Byas entered the courtroom late Thursday morning wearing an orange jumpsuit and stared at the family as he entered and exited the courtroom. He showed no remorse while being accompanied by his attorney, Pete Bradley.
Byas was accused of dousing his wife, Angela, 35, with gasoline and setting her on fire. The Thomasville Police Department was dispatched to the Byases’ residence on Leach Avenue during the evening hours of Oct. 7, 2013. TPD Det. Lt. Brad Saintsing has said the incident culminated after a domestic dispute between the husband and wife, and Angela Byas’ daughters, who were the ages of 14 and 15 at the time of the incident, ran from the residence seeking help. The daughters witnessed the incident, but neither child was harmed.
A lengthy recovery for Angela Byas at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem followed the incident. Doctors performed over 20 major surgeries. Patsy Johnson, Angela Byas’ mother, previously told The Dispatch she quit her job to care for her daughter and grandchildren.
Byas, her mother, Byas’ children and other family members were in the courtroom. In courtroom remarks, Johnson told Portugal Byas she couldn’t believe a person could commit such a crime.
“The way I have seen my daughter suffer the past 22 months is just like something out of a horror movie,” the mother said.
Davidson County Assistant District Attorney Sheri Woodyard read a statement in the courtroom from Angela Byas’ 17-year-old daughter, Destiny. Through the letter, she explained she never thought in a “million of years” that anybody would have the “guts” to do what Portugal Byas did. Outside of the courtroom, Johnson said she and her family are pleased with Woodyard’s efforts to get the plea.
“It’s been a long road,” Angela Byas said outside of the courtroom. "... I’m still going to therapy. I’m pleased with the outcome.”
Byas and her family are raising money for her to attend a “Walk of Remembrance” in Indianapolis for the World Burn Congress in October. As of Thursday, the family has raised about $400 of the $2,000 needed for the trip.
“It will be my first time going to meet other people who have burned from different places,” Angela Byas said.
Citizens who would like to donate funds for the trip can mail a check in Angela Byas’ name or make the check in the name of Full Gospel Freewill Holiness Church (with Angela Byas Fund) in the memo line. These checks can be mailed to 1021 W. Holly Hill Road, Thomasville, NC 27360. The envelope should be made to Attn: Angela Byas.
Copyright 2015 The Dispatch, Lexington, N.C.