Charleston man gets 20 years for murder

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- A Charleston man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the fatal shooting of Nicholas Munn last year.

The sentencing hearing before Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett was held Tuesday in the Butler County Courthouse in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Devonte Marquez Johnson, 19, entered a plea of guilty to second-degree murder July 17. The case was in Butler County on a change of venue from Mississippi County.

Munn's 6-year-old daughter testified at the hearing, requesting that Johnson be sentenced to "a long time in jail," according to a news release from Darren Cann, prosecuting attorney for Mississippi County. She also told the court that she missed her father. Also testifying were Munn's mother and his three sisters.

"It was very sad to see a 6-year-old-girl give a statement to the court explaining, as best as she could, how she missed her father," Cann said. "It was sad to see Mr. Munn's mother and his sisters give statements. I hope this family can now have some peace."

Munn was killed during a nightclub scuffle Aug. 13, 2011. According to testimony at Johnson's preliminary hearing, Munn and Johnson had an altercation at Bro's Kickin' on West Marshall Street in Charleston.

Johnson then admitted to pulling a pistol from his waistband and shooting Munn once in the back. Johnson then fled to Kalamazoo, Mich., where he was later arrested.

Pertinent address:

Charleston, MO