Newlin Gets 55 Years in Prison

The man accused of masterminding the shooting death of his stepson has been sentenced to 55 years in prison.

52-year-old Wayne Newlin of Herrick had been found guilty in September of his role in the death of 25-year-old Jeremy Morgan.  Prosecutors convinced a jury that Newlin convinced 24-year-old Michael Pease of Pana to kill Morgan because Morgan wouldn't move out of the home he was sharing with Newlin and a woman.

Pease pleaded guilty in July to shooting Morgan, and was sentenced to 45 years in prison.

Authorities say Newlin and Pease plotted Morgan's death, but the plan came unraveled after Morgan phoned 911 before Pease shot him and police reached the scene before the plot to dispose of the body could be executed.