A 26-year-old Pennsylvania man is facing 25 years in prison after being convicted of causing the death of his friend.
On Tuesday afternoon, Jacob Vanbergen was sentenced to 25 years in jail by Lewis County Court. After being released from prison, he will be on probation for five years.
In June, Vanbergen was convicted of first-degree manslaughter in the killing of his friend Brandon Shepker in a Lewis County motel room.
Prosecutors allege that Vanbergen strangled Shepker at the River View Lodge near Lowville. The incident occurred on January 6, 2024. The two males were from Pennsylvania.
Vanbergen was originally charged with murder. He was found guilty on that charge but also convicted of manslaughter.
Lewis County District Attorney Jeffery Tompkins expressed satisfaction with the sentencing, stating that it “can’t make up for the loss of a loved one, but it’s satisfying to know the maximum penalty was given when applied to facts that clearly called for the longest sentence available under the law.”
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