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Last updated on Wednesday, March 5, 2014
(BLOOMFIELD) - Superior Court Judge Dena Martin handed down a sentence of 81 years to Randal Edward Crosley for the murder of Katelyn Wolfe but before doing so she expressed her dismay at the nature of the crime.
"The way you did this," Martin told Crosley, "was just evil in nature."
The Greene County Daily World reports that the judge called Crosley's acts cold and calculated - a heinous offense, and she said the community was not safe with Crosley on the street.
In weighing the aggravating versus mitigating factors, the judge said Crosley's age was a mitigating factor that did not carry a lot of weight.
"You're 25, not ten."
On the fact that his child would grow up without a father, the judge said, "You knew you had that child when you did this."
Greene County Prosecutor Jarrod Holtsclaw told the court that because of the overwhelming evidence, Crosley did not have much choice but to plead guilty.
Regarding Crosley's difficult childhood, the judge said, "Even a poor childhood does not give you an excuse or validation to take a human life."
Though the defense said Crosley had shown remorse during a pre-sentence investigation, the judge disagreed says she had watched him during all his court appearances and not once did he shed a tear until his sister took the stand to testify about Crosley's terrible childhood.
Martin's biggest factor in the sentencing was that Crosley had planned the murder.
She added Crosley was happy about his plans and picked a friend to be the victim. She talked about Crosley calling himself "the bogeyman," dumping the victim in a body of water, and that he had done some research before the murder.
Judge Martin says showing leniency in the sentencing would jeopardize the safety of the community.
Judge Martin Sentenced Crosley to the maximum sentence allowed by law.
* For Count 1 -- Murder, a felony, 63 years. The advisory sentence for murder in the state of Indiana is 55 years, but years can be added or subtracted for a possible sentence range of 45-65 years.
* Count 2 -- Conspiracy to commit murder, a class A felony, 50 years. The advisory sentence was 30 years, sentence range of 20-50 years.
* Count 3 -- Conspiracy to commit rape, a class B felony, 18 years. The advisory sentence was 10 years, sentence range of six-20 years.
* Count 4 -- Criminal confinement, a class C felony, eight years. The advisory sentence was four years, sentence range of two to eight years.
* Count 5 -- Dealing in a Schedule IV controlled substance, a class C felony, eight years. The advisory sentence was four years, sentence range of two to eight years.
He was also fined $100 on each count in addition to court costs and fees.
Under the terms of the negotiated plea agreement signed by Crosley, his attorney -- Greene County Chief Public Defender Alan Baughman and Greene County Prosecutor Jarrod Holtsclaw, sentencing was to be left to the discretion of Greene Superior Court, however, counts 1, 2, 4 and 5 were to be served concurrently (at the same time) and it was left to the discretion of the court whether Count 3 will be served concurrently or consecutively to the other counts.
Martin said the two sentences would run consecutively -- she found the aggravating factors in the case far, far outweighed the mitigating factors.
When the judge spoke to the Wolfe family, she said, "Most days I love my job. Today is not one of them.
"No matter what I do, I can't bring Katelyn back."
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