Marvin Noland
Sterlen Keller
Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
(PAOLI) - 20-year-old Marvin Noland was sentenced Monday to 20 years in prison for his role in the 2010 death of 79-year-old Robert Collier.
Noland pleaded guilty in August to auto theft, failure to report a dead body, and aiding voluntary manslaughter.
According to Orange County Circuit Court Judge Larry Blanton, Noland was sentenced to the maximum - three years for auto theft and to the maximum - one year for failure to report a dead body. He was sentenced to 20 years for aiding voluntary manslaughter. The sentences will run concurrently or at the same time.
Noland will receive 751 days credit for time served since his arrest.
Noland was one of two men charged in connection with Collier's death.
24-year-old Sterlen Keller, of Salem, was convicted in April on charges of burglary, theft, auto theft and failure to report a dead body. He was cleared of the murder charges. He was sentenced to 32 years in prison.
The two men were charged after Collier's badly decomposed body was found in October of 2010 behind the barn on his property near Bromer. Documents released by the office of Orange County Prosecutor Kelly Minton suggested Collier had been strangled.
During the sentencing two of Collier's family members addressed the court.
Judith Pierce told the judge Noland "disgust" her. She told the judge that her father trusted Noland and he Noland betrayed that trust.
Collier's brother, Mervin Collier, of Bedford, also addressed the court, calling Noland and Keller "evil."
Orange County Sheriff's Department Detective Denis Lanham went to Collier's home at 5952 N. County Road 650 E., Orleans, after receiving a call from Washington County Sheriff's Department Deputy Rickie Stewart, requesting a welfare check.
Police were told by Keller's stepfather Joe Howell Sr. that Kellerr and Noland had stolen Collier's truck and possibly killed him.
Lanham found Collier's decomposing body near a barn.
Authorities located Keller and Noland, and the men were taken to the Washington County Jail for questioning. They were then arrested and taken to the Orange County Jail.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Collier was home when Keller and Noland went to Collier's property.
The three men were discussing a price on a fuel tank Keller wanted to scrap.
Noland told police he heard a noise, turned and saw Keller strangling Collier. Noland told police he didn't try to stop Keller, and "turned away and prayed."
Marvin Noland |
Sterlen Keller |
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