Man accused of fatally stabbing FVSU freshman shouts that he’s not a killer

A man charged with murder in the stabbing of a Fort Valley State University freshman shouted in the courtroom Thursday that he wasn’t a killer.

Joseph Anthony Scott of Fort Valley is charged with fatally stabbing 19-year-old Donnell Phelps late Tuesday afternoon after Phelps stepped in to help three young women Scott allegedly was harassing, said J.T. Ricketson, special agent in charge of the GBI’s Perry office.

Scott also stabbed campus public safety officer Ernest Johnson of Macon in a separate attack, Ricketson said. Johnson, who is hospitalized, is expected to recover.

Thursday, Scott went before Peach County Magistrate Court Judge Lauren C. Lee for a first appearance hearing.

“I still haven’t talked to a lawyer. I still haven’t seen a nurse. I know you don’t care about me. I care about everybody, and I am a Wildcat,” Scott, a former FVSU student, told the judge.

Lee replied, “OK. Great.”

Scott, in handcuffs and wearing an orange jail jumpsuit, refused to sign a court form handed to him by a bailiff. The form asked if Scott understood his rights and that he had his first appearance hearing.

“I’m not signing anything yet. … I understand you all are looking at me like a killer, or whatever,” Scott said as he looked around the room at law enforcement officers, court officials and members of the media.

“But I’m not a (expletive) killer, “ Scott shouted as he turned back to look at the media. He then looked back at the judge. “I’m sorry.”

He quickly was escorted out of the courtroom. On the way out, Scott looked over at the lead GBI investigator on the case.

“I know you’re here, too, bro. I know you’re the investigator, too, and I respect you,” Scott said.

If convicted, Scott would face the possibility of a life sentence in prison and potentially a death sentence on the murder charge. He could get a maximum of 20 years on the aggravated assault, Lee told Scott from the bench, and the possession of a knife during the commission of a crime charge is a five-year felony.

Scott turns 25 on Friday.

The outburst came at the close of the hearing. But throughout the hearing, Scott continually looked around the courtroom and made comments. Among the excerpts from the hearing:

When asked by the judge if he would like a court-appointed attorney, Scott said, “Yeah, I’m thinking about talking for myself these days.”

Scott also was asked if he would like to have a preliminary hearing, in which prosecutors are required to show sufficient probable cause to justify an arrest.

“I would like to run through this entire situation ASAP,” Scott said.

Lee replied, “We’re not doing that this morning.”

When asked if he had any questions about his rights, Scott replied, “Of course not.”

Phelps was stabbed four times with a pocket knife after he intervened when Scott was attempting to “grope” three women coming out of the campus cafeteria, Ricketson said. Phelps died at the Medical Center of Peach County, Navicent Health.

Johnson was stabbed seven times by Scott, who knocked on the guard’s booth at the main entrance and attacked Johnson when he opened the door, Ricketson.

Scott also kicked out window of a campus police vehicle as he was being taken to the Peach County jail, where he is being held without bond, Ricketson said.

This story was originally published May 5, 2016 at 11:34 AM with the headline "Man accused of fatally stabbing FVSU freshman shouts that he’s not a killer."