Lima man sentenced to at least 17 years in prison in murder case

LIMA – A Lima man was sentenced Tuesday in Allen County Common Pleas Court to at least 17 years in prison after recently pleading guilty to an amended charge of involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony, and an additional charge of tampering with evidence. a third degree felony.

Takal Austin, 20, accepted a deal last week that also included a firearms specification. Along with the deal, both parties agreed to a sentence of 11 to 17 1/2 years in prison for the first charge, with a mandatory three years for the specification and three years in prison for the second charge. The maximum time Austin could spend in prison is 22.5 years. Austin also agreed not to seek judicial release.

The ruling also required Austin to pay the family of the victim, Kobe Bryant, $7,000 in compensation for funeral expenses.

The courtroom was mostly filled with Austin and Bryant's family on Tuesday.

Bryant's mother, Jacqueline Bryant, spoke before Austin's sentencing. She said she knows Austin's family and has never heard a sympathetic word from the family. She said she never wanted Austin to take a plea deal and she wanted a jury to try the case. She also reached out to Austin, who made disrespectful statements about Bryant in prison.

Austin's attorney said Austin wanted to apologize to Bryant's family. Austin did not comment before sentencing.

Austin was arrested on January 9, 2023 in connection with Bryant's death. Lima Police Department officers were dispatched to the area of ​​Branson Avenue and Fourth Street on the night of December 29, 2022 just before 10 p.m. When they arrived, they found Bryant, 22, suffering from gunshot wounds in the yard of a residence at 643 E. Fourth St. He was unresponsive and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Austin was charged with aggravated murder and murder related to gang activity, but those charges were dismissed.

Reach Charlotte Caldwell at 567-242-0451.