Montana Man Sentenced To 50 Years In Decapitation Death

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The first of two men accused of decapitating a casino patron was sentenced to 70 years in the Montana State Prison with 20 years suspended.

Jeffery Haverty, 35, was sentenced Wednesday for deliberate homicide in the death of Myron Wesley Knight in October 2017, The Billings Gazette reports.

Haverty and Cherry met Knight at the Montana Lil’s Casino in Billings. Investigators said the three were headed to a nearby transient camp when Knight asked a casino employee to hold his $120 in winnings, believing he might be robbed.

Later that night, Haverty and Cherry took turns decapitating the 41-year-old, who had $6 in his pocket at the time, authorities said.

Haverty pleaded guilty to the charges twice, most recently in February as attorneys reworked his plea deal.

Yellowstone County District Judge Gregory Todd gave Haverty credit for time already served.

As part of his plea deal, Haverty can be called as a state’s witness in Cherry’s trial.

Cherry faces charges of deliberate homicide, evidence tampering, witness tampering, and intimidation.