Men convicted in teen beating ordered to pay medical, funeral costs

FAIRBANKS (AP) -- Three of the four men convicted of killing a Fairbanks teenager in 1997 were ordered Tuesday to pay almost $18,500 in medical and funeral costs associated with the boy's beating death.

The three, Kevin Pease, 22, Marvin Roberts, 22, and Eugene Vent, 20, were convicted last year of killing John Hartman, 15.

But a defense attorney said he doubted Hartman's parents or the state would collect much from the three, who are serving from 33 to 79 years each for their role in the murder.

''If the judge or prosecutor has to make dinner on the amount of money they're going to collect from (these men), they're going to starve,'' said attorney Bill Murphree as he left the hearing. ''It's a waste of time.''

Pease, Roberts and Vent were ordered by state Superior Court Judge Ben Esch to reimburse Hartman's parents $1,674 for the cost of their son's funeral. And they will have to repay the state Violent Crimes Compensation Board nearly $17,000 for various medical bills paid on behalf of the boy and his mother, Evalyn Thomas, who suffered depression and a mental breakdown after her son's death.

A fourth defendant, George Frese, 29, was convicted and sentenced separately. The court had earlier ordered him to pay nearly $2,700 in restitution.

Pease is serving 79 years, Vent 38 years, and Roberts 33 years for their roles in the murder. Frese was sentenced to a 77-year term for Hartman's murder and a separate attack on another man.

All four men have maintained their innocence.

Tuesday's hearing centered on the medical expenses Thomas accrued following her son's beating and death. Neither she nor her son had insurance, and the emotion and controversy surrounding the case made her incapable of holding a job, she testified.