VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A man who initially faced a murder charge will spend 40 years behind bars after he was sentenced to a lesser charge as part of a deal in exchange for his guilty plea.
Michael Charles Wilson appeared in Vigo County Superior Court 3 Monday for sentencing. A planned jury trial was canceled after the plea deal was agreed upon. In exchange for Wilson’s guilty plea to the felony 1 charge of burglary resulting in serious bodily injury, the murder charge as well as a auto theft charge were dismissed.
Wilson had been charged in relation to the death of his mother in May of 2021.
During Monday’s sentencing, Judge Sarah K. Mullican ordered that Wilson be committed to the Indiana Department of Correction for a term of 40 years. Wilson received credit for 1,003 days of time served.
Vigo County Prosecutor Terry Modesitt said that while Wilson pleaded guilty, part of the reason for the deal was Wilson’s mental health.
“While there is no dispute that the defendant was mentally ill at the time of this crime, he was deemed to understand right from wrong at the time he committed these acts. Therefore, Indiana Law still holds him accountable,” Modesitt said. “The Court and the family of Gayle Wilson agreed that this forty-year prison sentence was a fair resolution balancing the mental illness component, community safety and bringing closure for the family to this horrible event. Our prayers go out for their continued healing.”
As part of his deal, the state agreed not to object to the modification of his sentence to probation once he has less than 5 years remaining on his sentence. The Judge also ordered Wilson to have a no-contact order for a number of individuals involved in the case.
Wilson will be prohibited in the future from owning or possessing firearms as his conviction makes him a serious violent felon.
