LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln man has been sentenced 40 to 45 years in prison for fatally shooting a man at a house party.
Twenty-three-year-old Michael Arellano Jr. was found guilty of manslaughter Tuesday after striking a deal with prosecutors. He pleaded no contest to the charge in the June 2013 shooting death of 38-year-old Shane Newman.
Arellano was originally charged with second-degree murder, second-degree assault and two counts of using a weapon to commit a felony. Police say the victim punched another man outside of the home before Arellano started shooting.
Arellano had admitted to shooting Newman, but said he did it to defend his friend.
A judge declared a mistrial in June after jurors couldn’t agree on a verdict.