Circuit Judge James Fensom sentenced William Henry Chase III to 25 years in prison Monday for the second-degree murder of 16-year-old Jacob Hendershot.
Chase, 18, pleaded no contest to the charge on July 20, in an open plea to the judge.
Chase was seeking a sentence of no more than 25 years in prison while Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford made it clear he would be asking the judge for a 30-year sentence.
After hearing testimony Monday, Fensom gave Chase the same penalty as his codefendant Joel Millsap, 25 years.
Chase and Millsap beat, stabbed and strangled Hendershot July 14, 2011, after Chase’s girlfriend fabricated a story about Hendershot raping her.
Chase was the last of five defendants who were charged, convicted and sentenced in this case.
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