A 50 year sentence has been handed down to the man who shot and killed a teenager in Michigan City more than six years ago.
Charles Gerron was found guilty last month of murder and criminal recklessness in the death of Nekeisha Hodges-Hawkins, 17.
He faced 45 to 65 years in prison and received 50 years during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 31.
The murder case went cold for over five years. That is, until a tip came in that led to the arrest of Gerron in December of 2016.
Gerron had agreed to a plea deal to reduce his charge because of a question over whether he actually fired the bullet that killed Hodges-Hawkins. But in a fairly rare move, the judge rejected it and faced a full jury in the seven-day trial.
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