Willis sentence upheld

Harrison Circuit Court Judge Robert McGinnis upheld the jury's recommendation in sentencing Larry Willis for the Aug. 22, 2007, shooting of his estranged wife Ruby.

McGinnis sentenced Willis to a total of 10 years in the case, which involved convictions on two charges.

On May 29, the jury found Willis guilty of first degree assault and second degree assault for shooting his wife two times.

The sentence was 10 years on the first degree assault and five on the second, to be served at the same time.

Because first degree assault is a B-level felony, he will have to serve at least 85 percent of the sentence (eight and one half years) before being eligible for parole.

During the trial, Willis' defense was that he was suffering from extreme emotional disturbance on the day of the shooting and that he had been suicidal and depressed as a result of his impending divorce.

Ruby Willis took the stand and testified that he had told her prior to Aug. 22 that if anything ever happened to her, he would claim insanity.

The jurys conviction was for the most severe charges, but the sentences were the minimums.

Willis has been lodged in the Grant County Detention Center since his conviction.