SINGLETON GETS LIFE

AT AGE 79, KILLER COULD GET PAROLED

A three-judge panel sentenced Singleton to life in prison with eligibility for parole after 30 years for the aggravated murder of Margaret "Peggy" Chain, a Sunoco Mini Mart employee who was gunned down April 3.

With additional prison time for other charges, Singleton will not be eligible for parole until he is 79 years old.

`In force and effect, this sentence amounts to life without parole,' Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Jeffrey Froelich told Singleton at his sentencing hearing Friday.

Singleton showed little emotion but his mother, Lesley Mooneyham, buried her head and sobbed after the sentence was read.

Defense attorney Michael Monta later said her emotions spilled over as the ordeal of the trial drew to a close, but his client's family was relieved that the court had spared Singleton's life.

`They knew from the beginning that Bryan was going to be severely punished,' said Monta, adding that an appeal is likely.

Moments before the sentence was read, Karen Jones pleaded that Singleton be executed for killing her mother, a gas station manager who had endured 19 years of an abusive marriage and raised five children and 52 foster children.

Jones said her family has experienced both sides of violent crime. Her own father is serving a life sentence for a 1980 murder conviction.

"If I had any say so in the matter and the death penalty was legal back then, I would have been the first to vote for execution," she told the court. "I'm telling you this because I don't want you to think I just want revenge against Bryan."

But the judges rejected capital punishment, ruling that Singleton's age, lack of significant criminal history and troubled upbringing were mitigating factors in the case. They rejected, however, defense counsel's argument that Singleton suffered a mental impairment that limited his ability to understand that he was committing a crime or to control his behavior.

The also rejected the argument that co-defendant, Jacob Agee, was the real instigator of the crime. "Defendant Singleton knowingly and purposely committed murder, robbery and burglary," the judges wrote.

"This is a victory for the state and the family of Margaret Chain," assistant county prosecutor Angela Frydman said. "We are pleased and confident that he will never again see the light of day."

SENTENCING DETAILS FOR BRYAN KEITH SINGLETON

Bryan Keith Singleton on Friday was sentenced *to a total of 60 years in prison on the following charges:

* AGGRAVATED MURDER - Life in prison with eligibility for parole after 30 years. An additional three years was imposed because the offense was committed with a firearm.

* AGGRAVATED ROBBERY - 10 years

* AGGRAVATED BURGLARY - 10 years

* HAVING A WEAPON UNDER A DISABILITY - one year

* FELONIOUS ASSAULT (from earlier case) - 6 years

* NOTE: All sentences are to be served consecutively

CREDIT: WALLY NELSON\DAYTON DAILY NEWS
(#2) Karen Jones, daughter of slain convenience store clerk Margaret Chain, is hugged in court by her husband, Ron Ashcraft, as her mother's killer is sentenced to life in prison. Before the verdict was read, she had urged the court to impose the death penalty on Bryan Keith Singleton. (B&W)

CREDIT: WALLY NELSON\DAYTON DAILY NEWS

CONTACT Wendy Hundley at 225-2420 or e-mail her at wendy_hundley@coxohio.com