Pike County Circuit Judge Howard Keith Hall formally sentenced a Stopover man who pleaded guilty on Feb. 29 to the shooting death of his cousin. Sterlin “Little Man” Justice, 20, of Hurricane Creek, Stopover, was indicted by a Pike County grand jury in July of last year on charges of first-degree murder and tampering with evidence.

He entered a guilty plea to a reduced charge of manslaughter and tampering with evidence. At the time of his plea, Hall told Justice that, by entering a guilty plea, he was giving up certain constitutional rights, including the right to a trial by jury. Justice told the judge he understood the ramifications and had made his decision voluntarily.