LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Court of Appeals has affirmed the convictions and 30- to 60-year prison sentence of a man who threatened a witness at his 2009 murder trial.

Jeffrey Glazebrook’s 2012 lengthy sentence was due to his habitual offender status. He appealed, arguing that the sentence was excessive. The appeals court on Tuesday said the sentence falls within the range allowed by law.

Glazebrook was convicted of tampering with a witness and making terroristic threats. Jurors said Glazebrook mouthed the words, “I will kill you,” to the witness in court.

Glazebrook was convicted in 2009 of killing 97-year-old Sadie McReynolds, of Ashland, in 1977, but the Nebraska Supreme Court ordered a new trial. The prosecutor later dropped the murder charge so it would not interfere with the tampering case against Glazebrook.