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Sentencing tomorrow in Commerce murder case

By Kevin Jefferies

Commerce – Sentencing is scheduled for tomorrow for 25-year-old Brian Ellis Patrick, who pleaded guilty in January to the murder of a Commerce man. Patrick waived his right to a jury trial for the shooting death of 26-year-old James Prothro and claims the murder was committed under sudden passion.

If convicted of murder, Patrick faces 5 to 99 years or life in prison. If the courts decide the murder was committed under sudden passion, the maximum punishment would be reduced to up to 20 years in prison.

Patrick was the subject of a manhunt involving most area law enforcement agencies last June after shooting Prothro in the 600 block of Fourth Street in Commerce.