Sentence of Man Convicted of 2008 Killing to Be Shortened

SANDPOINT, Idaho (AP) — The sentence for a Sagle man convicted of shooting another man to death in 2008 will be shortened despite protests from the victim's family.

The Bonner County Daily Bee reports that James Anderson was serving a 10- to 20-year prison sentence for the death of Elvin "Eli" Holt, but he successfully petitioned for post-conviction relief on grounds that his defense counsel stopped him from taking the stand to defend himself. Anderson was granted a new trial and entered an Alford plea to second-degree murder on Oct. 9.

Under the plea he admits no wrongdoing, but acknowledges the state has enough evidence to convict him. He was re-sentenced to a 14-year prison term, seven of which are fixed. Holt's family says the seven-year sentence is insufficient given Anderson's crime.