The Associated Press: Man gets 21 years in bull rider's heroin death

19:35 21 , killed Cheyenne bull rider Bryan Guthrie 0 Comments

The Associated Press: Man gets 21 years in bull rider's heroin death: "Joel Murdoch, 22, pleaded guilty in February to conspiring to distribute the drugs that killed Cheyenne bull rider Bryan Guthrie, 21, in December and Valarie Anne Sena, 20, last summer. Murdoch also pleaded guilty to distribution of the drugs in Guthrie's death.
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association had ranked Guthrie as high as third in bull riding early last year before he was knocked out of competition with a leg injury in March 2009. He was the 2003 national junior bull riding champion.
Both the prosecution and defense asked U.S. District Judge William Downes to sentence Murdoch to 20 years in prison, the minimum allowed under federal sentencing guidelines. But the judge refused, saying Murdoch's crimes didn't warrant a minimum sentence.
Downes said he recognized Murdoch wouldn't have committed his crimes if he weren't addicted to drugs. But he said the defendant was a 'key ingredient' in the death of an innocent man.
'(Guthrie) wanted to quit,' the judge said. 'But you supplied him.'
Murdoch apologized at sentencing to Guthrie's parents and sister and said he deserved to go to prison."