By BRIAN ROGERS
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

A jury recommended today that Keith Turner be sentenced to 90 years in prison for his role in a savage attack in which a plastic pipe was kicked into the rectum of another teenager, causing severe injuries.

Turner, 17, showed no reaction as he stood and listened to the verdict.

His mother, Janis Turner, sobbed loudly upon hearing the decision.

The verdict means Turner must serve at least 30 years before he can become eligible for parole.

The jury convicted Turner of aggravated sexual assault on Friday for the April 22 attack at a residence in Spring.

Later on Friday, during the trial's sentencing phase, Turner's mother said from the witness stand that he is a loving son with a good heart, but had fallen in with a bad crowd.

"He's not a bad kid,'' Janis Turner said, sobbing. ``He's making bad choices.''

Turner's 18-year-old friend, David Tuck, was sentenced to life in prison last month after being convicted of aggravated sexual assault for the same attack.

Gus Sons, 16, whose home was the site of the attack, testified that Turner had held the 1½-inch-diameter pipe in place and Tuck had kicked it deep into the unconscious victim's rectum.

The victim testified in both trials that he does not recall the attack or the day leading up to it. He said he has undergone about 30 surgeries to repair massive internal injuries.and has more to go.

Sons told jurors that he, Turner, Tuck and the 17-year-old victim had been drinking and using drugs before the attack took place.

He said Tuck knocked the victim unconscious because the group suspected that the victim had stolen some of the drugs. Sons also said his younger sister, Danielle, then 12, had accused the victim of trying to kiss her.

Sons said Tuck shouted "white power!'' while beating and kicking the Hispanic victim.

brian.rogers@chron.com