A Putnam County man who said he shot and killed a woman and tried to kill her fiance in August will spend up to 65 years in jail.
WINFIELD, W.Va. -- A Putnam County man who said he shot and killed a woman and tried to kill her fiance in August will spend up to 65 years in jail.
In a hearing Thursday, Putnam Circuit Judge Philip Stowers sentenced Jessie J. Cossin, 21, for the February 2009 slaying.
Cossin pleaded guilty last month to shooting Angela Dawn Casto and Nick Hanshaw at their home in Red House. The three were good friends, according to previous reports, but Hanshaw had asked Casto to spend less time with Cossin.
"I ended up shooting one of my best friends," Cossin said at his plea hearing last month.
Prosecutors said that on the night of the slaying, Cossin was angered by a text message sent by Casto. He took his 9mm handgun to her home at 139 Bronco Junction in Red House.
Hanshaw answered the door, and Cossin pointed the gun in his face. Hanshaw slammed the door and Cossin fired several shots through it, hitting Casto and eventually killing her.
Cossin then forced his way into the trailer and shot Hanshaw in the leg. Hanshaw eventually wrestled the gun from Cossin, who then pulled out a knife and slashed Hanshaw in the jaw.
At his plea hearing, Cossin admitted that he intended to kill Hanshaw that night.
Cossin was sentenced to second-degree murder, attempted murder, and malicious wounding. As part of the plea deal, the sentences will run concurrently, and could keep Cossin in prison for as many as 65 years.
Stowers also ordered Cossin to pay $11,000 in restitution to the families of Hanshaw and Casto. Almost $6,000 will go to pay for Casto's funeral expenses, and $600 will go to pay for Hanshaw's bullet-riddled front door.
Reach Zac Taylor at zachary.tay...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5169.
WINFIELD, W.Va. -- A Putnam County man who said he shot and killed a woman and tried to kill her fiance in August will spend up to 65 years in jail.
In a hearing Thursday, Putnam Circuit Judge Philip Stowers sentenced Jessie J. Cossin, 21, for the February 2009 slaying.
Cossin pleaded guilty last month to shooting Angela Dawn Casto and Nick Hanshaw at their home in Red House. The three were good friends, according to previous reports, but Hanshaw had asked Casto to spend less time with Cossin.
"I ended up shooting one of my best friends," Cossin said at his plea hearing last month.
Prosecutors said that on the night of the slaying, Cossin was angered by a text message sent by Casto. He took his 9mm handgun to her home at 139 Bronco Junction in Red House.
Hanshaw answered the door, and Cossin pointed the gun in his face. Hanshaw slammed the door and Cossin fired several shots through it, hitting Casto and eventually killing her.
Cossin then forced his way into the trailer and shot Hanshaw in the leg. Hanshaw eventually wrestled the gun from Cossin, who then pulled out a knife and slashed Hanshaw in the jaw.
At his plea hearing, Cossin admitted that he intended to kill Hanshaw that night.
Cossin was sentenced to second-degree murder, attempted murder, and malicious wounding. As part of the plea deal, the sentences will run concurrently, and could keep Cossin in prison for as many as 65 years.
Stowers also ordered Cossin to pay $11,000 in restitution to the families of Hanshaw and Casto. Almost $6,000 will go to pay for Casto's funeral expenses, and $600 will go to pay for Hanshaw's bullet-riddled front door.
Reach Zac Taylor at zachary.tay...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5169.
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