Richards gets 15 years for manslaughter, drug charges

Nineteen-year-old Bernard Richards was sentenced to 15 years in prison Monday for the death of a 17-year-old Cape Girardeau youth and for felony possession of cocaine.

Richards, of Ullin, Ill., pleaded guilty in July to manslaughter charges in the Jan. 25 death of Jacob Bowers behind Du-Shell's Furniture at 2103 William St.

Circuit Court Judge William Syler sentenced Richards to the maximum seven years for the manslaughter charge and eight years for the felony drug charge, to run consecutively, for a total of 15 years.

Check out Tuesday's Southeast Missourian for reaction from those involved in the case.