(Pool Photo by Lindsey Baughman ~ Hutch News)
The sentencing for a 33-year-old Hutchinson man convicted for the killing of Jennifer Heckel was anything but dull, at least halfway through when the defendant again disrupted the court and was taken away by law enforcement.
But, in the end it didn’t matter, Judge Trish Rose granted the states motion that Charles Christopher Logsdon should get the “Hard 50” for the first degree murder conviction.
Then Judge Rose sentenced Logsdon for the other charges including conspiracy to commit first degree murder to 216-months, for aggravated burglary, 34-months, for criminal possession of a firearm, 9-months, and for aggravated intimidation of a witness, 19-months. Those sentences were ordered to run consecutive to each other, and consecutive to the “Hard 50.” That means he will serve roughly 73-years before he would be eligible for parole.
He interrupted as District Attorney Keith Schroeder began to argue for the “Hard 50” and jumped up and began yelling, “I did not do this” and “you can give me 500-years, I don’t care.”
A woman sitting behind the media then began yelling, “I love you Chris, I love you.” She also had to be removed from the courtroom prior to the sentence being handed down.
Schroeder after all that explained that Logsdon didn’t want to come to court for the sentencing hearing. Judge Rose also indicated to those in the packed courtroom that she ordered that he appear. But, after the outburst, she stated on the record that he waived his right to appear with the out burst.
Schroeder during his argument again stated that he believes the defendant deserves the “Hard 50” because of what he described the killing as an especially heinous, atrocious, and done in a cruel manner with the victims 5-year-old son hearing her scream and the shots fired.
The unfortunate part of the Logsdon being removed from the courtroom is that it denied the family who spoke their chance to address him and tell him of what he took from them with the killing.
The father of the victim spoke and told of the loving, caring daughter that he lost. He says there is no reason why this should have happened. He thinks about the “could have been, should have been, will never be.” He called the murder a “cowardly senseless act.” He told the judge that Logsdon handed his family a “life sentence.”
The victims mother told the judge that she was devastated by the murder, and that her whole family was shattered and that this is like a bad dream. She wishes she could wake up and Jennifer would still be alive. She told of the love between her daughter and Brian Heckel. She says he was so good to her daughter saying she couldn’t have asked for better son-n-law.
The victims sister sobbed through her whole statement which was the most lengthy. She says her only sister was murdered for no reason. She talked of her last meeting when she met her sister in Mt. Hope and both told each other that they loved them. She says, little did I know that would be the last time I would see her, the last time I would get to tell her that I loved her.
She also referred to this as a nightmare for which she can’t awaken and was upset because she couldn’t address Logsdon directly. She referred to him as a “coward.” She asked that Logsdon get the maximum allowed by law.
The victims husband didn’t speak at the Friday hearing, but did give a written statement where he told the judge of his loss. Judge Rose stated that she had read his statement.
Defense Attorney Michael Brown asked that the judge sentence Logsdon to concurrent sentencing but that was not to be.
Judge Rose clearly touched by what family members told her sentenced him to the “Hard 50” telling those at the hearing that the victim was entirely innocent, and that she believes he conspired to gain money and drugs.
Heckel was shot three times in her home on June 14, 2011, including in the head and back while her young son listened to her being killed in another room.
The state contends the murder was a case of mistaken identity and that the suspects intended to rob Kayla Salyer-Rodriquez. But, apparently ended up at the wrong house.
Brown told the judge that there would be a notice of appeal filed.
He earlier tried to get a mistrial because of them not being able to cross examine co-defendant Billy Craig. He refused to testify and was found in contempt. The defense contended that Logsdon’s rights were violated because there were statements made in the court reportedly by Craig about the case. The defense wanted to be able to cross examine him, but because he refused and became unavailable, they were not able to. The state argues that only one statement even implicated Logsdon and the judge have given a jury instruction to dismiss that comment. Judge Rose believes the jury did and denied the defense motion. She also denied a motion for a new trial and a judgment of a acquittal.