Jake Gastler, an Auxvasse-area man, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and first-degree assault Monday morning. Gastler received two 17-year sentences, which he must serve concurrently.
Gastler pleaded guilty in relation to an August 2013 incident that killed his neighbor - Zach O'Connor - and sent his neighbor's father - Mike O'Connor - to the hospital with severe injuries.
Around 12:58 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2013, Gastler called law enforcement and reported finding his neighbors covered in blood. When deputies arrived, Zachary O'Connor, 30, was found dead and his father, Michael W. O'Connor, 57, was in critical condition.
The Callaway County Sheriff's Office said Gastler admitted to assaulting his neighbors three days after the incident. Gastler was taken into custody and charged. In February 2014, Gastler pleaded not guilty to the crime. At the time, Wilson told the Fulton Sun that Gastler pleading not guilty to the murder and assault charges despite an alleged confession was not unusual.
His jury trial was originally set for Tuesday morning. After pleading guilty Monday morning, Gastler received sentencing for second-degree murder and one count of assault.
There had been negotiations between Gastler's attorney and the prosecuting attorney's office for the past 2-3 weeks, Wilson said.
"He had made an offer to plea guilty initially that we were not happy with," Wilson said.
After speaking with the victim's family - Michael O'Connor and his wife -Wilson said his office declined Gastler's attorney's first offer. He and the O'Connor's talked about what sentencing the state would counter with.
"I don't know that I would say that any family that has lost a loved one wants to see someone get something less than the maximum," Wilson said. "But what we had to talk about was the reality of what had occurred, the range of punishment, some of the mitigating circumstances that a jury and judge would consider and the risk that the state had to go to trial."
When a case goes to trial, Wilson said there is always a chance that a person can be acquitted. Also, if a case goes to trial, Wilson said the state can't guarantee the family a certain outcome. He added that a jury may recommend a sentence that is less than what the state thinks the defendant deserves.
Wilson's office's first counter is what Gastler pleaded guilty to Monday.
Count 2 assault was dismissed. Wilson said the state agreed to drop the assault charge on Zach O'Connor as long as Gastler agreed to plea guilty to causing his death. The court also specified on Monday that Gastler must serve no less than 85 percent of his sentencing.
Wilson said the family was comfortable with the outcome.