A sentence topping 30 years is the punishment for the "particularly cruel" murder of a well-known neighborhood mechanic in his Minneapolis garage.
Rondell R. Camp, 25, who had been living in north Minneapolis before the killing in late January, was sentenced in Hennepin County District Court after being found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of 56-year-old Steve Parker Sr. in the 3700 block of Aldrich Avenue N.
With credit for time in jail, Camp will serve the first 19-plus years in prison and the balance on supervised release.
Judge Jamie Anderson could have exceeded sentencing recommendations and imposed a term of 40 years. That sentence would have had Camp in prison for nearly seven additional years.
The county attorney's office said in a statement that Camp "was particularly cruel and his victim was particularly vulnerable."
Police arrived at the garage on Jan. 29 and saw a pool of blood under Parker's head and a box wrench under his shoulder. He had cuts to his head, broken bones in his face and a stab wound to his neck.
Police found Camp in the alley screaming in pain from a leg wound. Camp claimed self-defense during the jury trial; the defense alleged Parker had a gun. The prosecution countered that the gun was far from Parker and was free of blood, suggesting he had not been holding it.
Camp's prior criminal history included only minor drug offenses.
