07/02/2009

Associated Press

A Jackson County judge sentenced 20-year-old James C. Martin to 28 years in prison for the murder of a 12-year-old boy.

Dominique Henderson was shot to death on June 15, 2005, while standing alone in his backyard waiting for his dinner.

Martin and several others had planned to retaliate against members of a rival gang who were lounging on Henderson's front porch. Police say they instead targeted Henderson, who had just gotten up from a nap.

During sentencing on Wednesday, the slain boy's attorney pushed for a life sentence for Martin.

Because other gang members were partially responsible for Henderson's death, Martin's defense attorney asked for a 25-year sentence, the lowest permitted under Martin's plea agreement.

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Information from: The Kansas City Star, http://www.kcstar.com