Teen gets 25 years for slaying
A Baton Rouge man who was 16 when he fatally shot another man on East Belfair Drive in June 2010 was sentenced to 25 years in prison Thursday.
Michael Heatly, 19, pleaded guilty in May to manslaughter in the killing of Christopher Miles, 27.
Heatly was indicted on a first-degree murder charge in August 2010.
State District Judge Lou Daniel, who ordered Heatly to serve his prison time at hard labor, noted that Heatly had an “extensive” and “significant” juvenile criminal history, but no crimes of violence.
Manslaughter carries up to 40 years in prison.
Members of Miles’ family told Daniel the crime was “senseless” and “horrendous.”
Heatly told Miles’ family members, including the victim’s mother and wife, that he is “very remorseful” for what he did.
He also apologized to his own mother.
“You’ve basically broken your mother’s heart. You took a life,” Daniel told Heatly.
The judge added that Heatly affected the hearts of two families.
Police have said the shooting occurred during a drug deal. Prosecutors contend Heatly intended to rob Miles.
Police responded June 30, 2010, to a call about a shooting at 2014 E. Belfair Drive and found Miles dead in his backyard from multiple gunshot wounds. Heatly was arrested five days later.