Vantine Martin pleaded guilty in the Oct. 5 shooting death of John Cargal.
District Judge Richard Darby ordered Martin to serve 35 years. He will be eligible for parole in just under 30 years.
Cargal died of a single gunshot which penetrated his aorta, both lungs and his right arm. Court records cite an unnamed informant who said that Kenneth Roy Fitts was heard "talking about how he and Martin (also known as "Fonz") had beaten and killed the guy that was found shot to death the day before."
The informant told police that Fitts had found Cargal with his girlfriend, Clarissa Davis, a dancer at a bar called Baby Dolls.
The affidavit said that Davis told police she got in the truck with Cargal the day of the killing.
Davis said Martin was at the driver's side of the truck pointing a gun at Cargal, and "yelling at him to give him all his money." Davis said Cargal was pleading for his life and that she heard Martin hit Cargal at least twice. Davis heard a gunshot and saw Martin running and carrying Cargal's belt and buckle.
No charges were filed against Fitts, who police say drove Martin to pick up his girlfriend and had no knowledge of what Martin had planned.
"This outcome enabled us to honor the wishes of the victim's family to avoid a trial and long appeal process," District Attorney John Wampler said.
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