JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man who pleaded guilty to killing a man five years ago was sentenced Wednesday afternoon to 10 years in prison.
Before the judge handed down his sentence he said that he believed that day William Bruton took his dump truck and went to Michael Pearce's house with the intent of causing trouble, but he said he also believed that Bruton did not intent to kill Pearce.
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Prosecutors said William Bruton intentionally ran over Michael Pearce with a dump truck during an argument in 2000. Bruton fled the state after the incident, but was captured in South Carolina in 2003 and returned to Jacksonville.
In a deal with prosecutors, Bruton pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He admitted to driving the truck, but insisted it was an accident.
Bruton faced as many as 15 years in prison on the manslaughter charge.
Pearce's family isn't happy with that deal. During the sentencing hearing last month, Pearce's sister, Cynthia Day, collapsed as she listened to details of her brother's death.
She fought with bailiffs as they carried her out of court and was arrested.
The victim's mother, Wendi Baker, wanted Bruton tried for murder.
Bruton's family declined to comment on the sentence Wednesday.
Counting the time Bruton has already served, and parole eligibility, he could get out of prison in six years.
Previous Stories:
- November 30, 2005: Victim's Mother Takes Stand In Manslaughter Sentencing
- November 29, 2005: Emotions Overflow In Manslaughter Sentencing
- June 15, 2005: Man Pleads Guilty To Using Dump Truck To Kill
- September 3, 2001: Family Seeks Answers In Year-Old Murder
- August 24, 2000: Hit And Run Now Being Called Murder