Rev. Jesse Jackson in Court for West Bloomfield Stabbing Sentencing

PONTIAC — The Rev. Jesse Jackson made an appearance Wednesday in Oakland County Circuit Court at the sentencing hearing involving the .

"We've lost two children today — one to the graveyard and one to prison," said Jackson on the sentencing of Leonard White, 16, of Walled Lake.

Jackson said that he knew the family of the victim, Johnathan Rickman, 17, of West Bloomfield, and that the boy kept a photo of Jackson in his bedroom.

Jackson arrived in court as Rickman's mother, Amy O'Brien, of Rochester, was reading a prepared statement to Judge Wendy Potts. Afterward, he consoled Rickman's father, Roderick Rickman.

"I hurt for both families. There are no winners in this case, and I hope some lesson will be had," Jackson said.

"I'm here to offer consolation and not judgment. We must continue to work to stop the violence in our community."

White was sentenced 4-15 years as an adult in the Michigan Department of Corrections after being convicted of voluntary manslaughter Dec. 12. He was charged with open murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in the June 4 death of Rickman and found not guilty on the assault charge.

White's attorney, Rowland Short, had asked Potts for a juvenile sentence.