Photos by Cathy Dawes via courtroom TV monitor
A Belvue man has been sentenced to life in prison, with no eligibility for parole for at least 25 years–for the 2014 murder of his 70-year-old uncle. Christopher Arand learned his fate Thursday morning in Pottawatomie County District Court, with Judge Jeff Elder saying what tipped the scale was Arand’s mental illness and that the suspect’s family, which also is the victim Larry Arand’s family, had indicated support.
The Judge did refer to the brutality of the crime–which earlier was reported as involving Christopher Arand hitting his uncle in the back of the head several times with brass knuckles before suffocating him with a plastic bag. But as recommended by the state, represented by Pottawatomie County Attorney Sherri Schuck, Judge Elder said the mental health status and family support led him to consider the case as substantial and compelling not to sentence Arand to the usual hard 50.
Judge Elder added the decision to go with the 25 year minimum before parole eligibility was not an easy decision. Arand indicated he had nothing to say, but Judge Elder wished him luck at the conclusion of the proceeding.
Schuck told KMAN following the sentencing it was an extremely unique case. She mentioned Arand had no criminal history, and the family connection made it different. She says in an effort to not victimize the family any further, the state agreed to the hard 25 rather than the usual hard 50 for a crime of this nature.
