ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - A central Florida woman has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for her part in the fatal shooting of an Orange County deputy.
As part of a deal with prosecutors, 19-year-old Erica Pugh pleaded guilty Wednesday to manslaughter and other charges. She had been facing a first-degree murder charge and a mandatory life sentence.
Authorities say Deputy Jonathan Pine was responding to reports of car break-ins last February when he encountered 28-year-old Benjamin Holtermann. Pine chased Holtermann, who opened fire. One shot managed to hit Pine’s chest, under his arm.
Holtermann was later found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in a nearby neighborhood. Authorities say Pugh had been dating Holtermann and was with him during the break-ins.
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