Killer given life sentence

Circuit Judge Wendy Berger has sentenced Steven Leslie Stanaland Jr., to life in prison.

The jury came back with a split decision that could have sent Stanaland to the execution chamber; however, after the jury returned a 6 to 6 recommendation this morning, the judge spared the convicted killer’s life.

Stanaland must serve a mandatory 25 years in prison before he is eligible for release.

After less than one hour of deliberation, the same jury convicted Stanaland of the shooting death of Jesse “Pee Wee” Whitley that happened twenty years ago.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News contributed photograph by SJSO