Oct. 1—LIMA — A Lima man was sentenced Tuesday to a minimum of 17 years in prison in Allen County Common Pleas Court after recently pleading guilty to an amended charge of involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony and an additional charge of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony.
Takal Austin, 20, accepted a plea deal last week that included a firearms specification. Along with the deal was a mutually agreed upon sentence of 11 to 17 1/2 years in prison for the first charge, with a mandatory three years for the specification, and three years in prison for the second charge. The maximum time Austin can serve in prison is 22.5 years. Austin also agreed not to seek judicial release.
The sentencing also ordered Austin to pay $7,000 in restitution to the family of the victim, Kobe Bryant, for funeral expenses.
The courtroom was largely filled with Austin and Bryant’s family on Tuesday.
Bryant’s mother, Jacqueline Bryant, spoke before Austin’s sentencing. She said she knows Austin’s family and has never heard any condolences from the family. She said she never wanted Austin to take a plea deal and wanted a jury to hear the case. She also targeted Austin and made disrespectful statements about Bryant while he was in jail.
Austin’s attorney said Austin wanted to apologize to Bryant’s family. Austin did not make a statement before the sentencing.
Austin was arrested on January 9, 2023 in connection with Bryant’s death. Lima Police Department officers were dispatched to the area around Branson Avenue and Fourth Street on the night of December 29, 2022, shortly before 10 p.m. Upon arrival, they found Bryant, 22, in the yard of a home at 643 E. Fourth St., suffering from gunshot wounds. He was unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene.
Austin was indicted on charges of aggravated murder and murder involving gang activity, but those charges were dismissed.
Reach Charlotte Caldwell at 567-242-0451.
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