COQUILLE, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon man has declared his innocence as he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the 2000 death of his teenaged girlfriend.
Now 29, Nicholas McGuffin was convicted last month of manslaughter by a Coos County, Ore., jury but acquitted of murder in the death of Leah Freeman. She was 15 when she disappeared on the night of June 28, 2000. Her body was found five weeks later. Police investigated McGuffin at the time but no charges were filed until last year, when a grand jury considering new evidence indicted him.
At Monday’s sentencing, McGuffin read a lengthy statement in court, accusing prosecution witnesses of lying and saying “you’re placing an innocent person in jail” while the real killer walks free.
Defense lawyer Shaun McCrea says she will seek a new trial.
