The suspected leader of a prominent gang in Chattanooga learned today that he will spend at least 70 years in prison after being convicted earlier this year in a 2006 gang-related shooting death.

A jury convicted Michael “Mike Mike” Daniels in May of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder for shooting and killing Adrian Patton in broad daylight in the Emma Wheeler Homes housing project.

At the time, he was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, as well as 23 years in prison on the conspiracy charge.

Hamilton County Judge Rebecca Stern today ruled that the sentences will be served consecutively, meaning there is a high probability the 22-year-old will spend at least 70 years in prison.

Under state law, Mr. Daniels will be eligible for parole after about 51 years in relation to his life sentence. Even if he is granted parole, however, he must then begin serving his sentence on the conspiracy charge.

Assistant District Attorney Bates Bryan said Mr. Daniels qualifies for consecutive sentencing, which is rare, because of his criminal record and the belief that Mr. Daniels had relied upon a life of crime to support himself.

Authorities say Mr. Daniels was the leader of Chattanooga’s Skyline Bloods.

The same jury convicted Timothy “Timbo” Evans of the same charges. He also has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole and 23 years on the conspiracy charge, but his sentences will run concurrently, Judge Stern ruled.

Mr. Evans actually pulled the trigger of the gun that killed the victim, but was told by Mr. Daniels to do it, according to the prosecution. At the time of the killing, Mr. Evans was a juvenile and did not have an extensive record, Mr. Bates said, which led them not to seek consecutive sentencing.

The 2006 killing of Mr. Patton is believed to have led to a retaliation killing three days later in East Lake Courts. The shooting deaths that summer prompted Chattanooga’s law enforcement agencies to take a closer look at how they deal with gang violence.

See tomorrow’s Times Free Press for complete details.

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