- Posted July 18, 2014
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Teens sentenced in home invasion, death
PONTIAC (AP) - An Oakland County judge has sentenced one teenager to life in prison while giving his co-defendant at least 42 years in the slaying of a 27-year-old Pontiac man during a home invasion.
The two were 16 and 17 when they committed the felony murder in 2012, and the U.S. Supreme Court bars Michigan from automatically imposing its mandatory life, no parole sentence against juvenile convicts.
On Wednesday, Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Rudy Nichols sentenced 19-year-old Jonathan Hickerson to life and 18-year-old Donald James to 42-62 years for murder and firearms charges.
Authorities say the teens invaded Adrian Contreras's Pontiac home and shot him. Contreras's brother Brian shot back, hitting Hickerson's face.
Before the sentencing, Hickerson apologized to his and the victim's families, saying he doesn't deserve to ever go free.
Published: Fri, Jul 18, 2014
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