27 year-old Kevin Lino was sentenced Wednesday morning to 40 years in the Montana State Prison for the beating, torturing and shooting death of transient Gilbert 'Jack" Berry in August of 2014.

Chief Deputy County Attorney Jason Marks said Lino was sentenced by District Judge Karen Townsend.

"Mr. Lino was charged with deliberate homicide," Marks said. "He shot a man by the Clark Fork River last August and then dumped his body in the river. It took quite some time to solve this case given that all the witnesses were transients, but Lino was eventually identified as the suspect. He was charged and eventually apprehended in Louisiana where he fought extradition back to Montana."

Marks said Lino accepted a plea agreement because several of his co-defendants agreed to testify against him. Kenneth Hickman was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in Berry's death.

Lino was taken from the Missoula County Courthouse to the Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge.

 

More From Newstalk KGVO 1290 AM & 98.3 FM