Lima man sentenced to minimum 17 years prison in murder case

LIMA — A Lima man was sentenced to a minimum of 17 years in prison Tuesday in the Allen County Common Pleas Court after recently pleading guilty to an amended charge of involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony, and an additional charge of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony.

Takal Austin, 20, accepted a plea deal last week that also included a firearm specification. Along with the deal was a sentence agreed on by both parties of 11 to 17 1/2 years in prison for the first charge, with a mandatory three years for the specification, and three years in prison for the second charge. The maximum time Austin could be in prison is 22.5 years. Austin also agreed to not request judicial release.

The sentencing also ordered Austin to pay a $7,000 restitution to the family of the victim, Kobe Bryant, for funeral expenses.

The courtroom was mostly full Tuesday with Austin’s family and Bryant’s family.

Bryant’s mother, Jacqueline Bryant, spoke before Austin’s sentencing. She said she knows Austin’s family and has never heard any words of sympathy from the family. She said she never wanted Austin to take a plea deal and wanted a jury to hear the case. She also addressed Austin making disrespectful statements about Bryant while he’s been in jail.

Austin’s attorney said Austin wanted to apologize to Bryant’s family. Austin didn’t make a statement before sentencing.

Austin was arrested Jan. 9, 2023, in connection with Bryant’s death. Officers from the Lima Police Department were dispatched shortly before 10 p.m. on the night of Dec. 29, 2022, to the area of Branson Avenue and Fourth Street. Upon arrival, they found Bryant, 22, in the yard of a residence at 643 E. Fourth St. suffering from gunshot wounds. He was unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene.

Austin was indicted on charges of aggravated murder and murder with a gang activity specification but those charges were dismissed.

Reach Charlotte Caldwell at 567-242-0451.