Noah McGlawn

The man convicted of randomly shooting a motorcyclist on U.S. 72 in Athens in 2012 has been ordered to pay $25,000 in restitution to his victim and the state crime victims commission.

Noah Andrew McGlawn, 25, of Whiteville, Tennessee, was convicted Feb. 13 of first-degree assault for firing two bullets into Brandon Matlock, 27, of Athens, as Matlock drove his motorcycle along 72 near Mooresville Road on Sept. 10, 2012.

Circuit Judge Robert Baker sentenced McGlawn to 20 years in prison. However, the sentence was split so McGlawn would serve four years in prison and five years on supervised probation. Because McGlawn had already served more than four years in the Limestone County Jail prior to his trial, he was given credit for time already served. So, he will now only have to serve his five years of supervised probation. Should he violate his probation, he could face 20 years in prison.

On Thursday, McGlawn was ordered to pay $25,000 in restitution, including $10,000 to Matlock and $15,000 to the Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission in Montgomery.

Limestone County District Attorney Brian Jones had initially sought $27,493 in restitution but recently modified the request. Matlock’s portion was granted to cover six months of lost wages and out-of-pocket medical costs.

At the DA’s request, McGlawn will have to pay the restitution in monthly installments of $100 beginning July 1. If McGlawn fails to abide by the restitution order, the DA’s Office could ask the court to revoke his probation and parole and ask the court to declare him in contempt of court and pay a 30 percent collection fee.

The shooting

McGlawn had been driving for hours in Tennessee and Alabama before choosing Matlock at random and shooting him in the right arm and then slowing down when Matlock did and shooting him again in the back. A short time later, McGlawn turned himself in to authorities.

He told Athens Police Investigator Chris Slaton he was angry at his father for wanting him to return to a trade school he did not like and, as a result, he “just felt like shooting someone.”

Matlock recovered from his injuries, for the most part, but testified at trial he still has discomfort and difficulty with, such tasks turning a bolt.

Defense witnesses had testified at trial they believed McGlawn had either autism or Asperger Syndrome. His parents knew McGlawn was different from other children but they never sought a medical diagnosis.