KROLL SENTENCED TO 75 YEARS IN PRISON

23 YEAR OLD JAMES KROLL OF SIOUX CITY WAS SENTENCED TO A COMBINED 75 YEARS IN PRISON THURSDAY FOR THE JUNE 13TH CROWBAR BEATINGS THAT CLAIMED THE LIFE OF JEFFREY MORAVEK AND SERIOUSLY INJURED MARY TOPE AT HER HOME LAST SUMMER.

A PACKED COURTROOM HEARD WOODBURY COUNTY DISTRICT JUDGE DUANE HOFFMEYER SENTENCE KROLL TO 50 YEARS FOR SECOND DEGREE MURDER AND 25 YEARS FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER.

MORAVEK'S SISTER AND BROTHER AND HIS TWO DAUGHTERS EACH READ EMOTIONAL STATEMENTS ABOUT HOW MORAVEK'S DEATH AND TOPE'S INJURIES HAVE DEVASTATED THEIR FAMILY.

KROLL SAT QUIETLY, STARING AHEAD AT THAT TIME, AND THEN READ HIS OWN STATEMENT PRIOR TO SENTENCING. KROLL SAYS HE HAS FELT TERRIBLE EVERY DAY ABOUT THE PAIN AND SUFFERING HE'S CAUSED; AND HATES HIMSELF AND PRAYS EVERY DAY.

HE BLAMED SIDE EFFECTS OF PROZAC AND BEING HIGH ON K-2 WHEN HE WENT TO TOPE'S HOME TO SEE HER DAUGHTER EMILY.

KROLL SAID HE FELT SUICIDAL AND WANTED TO SEE HER BEFORE TAKING HIS OWN LIFE.  INSTEAD, HE TOOK MORAVEK'S LIFE AND CHANGED TOPE'S AND THEIR FAMILY'S LIVES FOREVER.

JUDGE HOFFMEYER ORDERED THE SENTENCES TO BE SERVED CONSECUTIVELY AND KROLL MUST SERVE AT LEAST 52 AND A HALF YEARS IN PRISON BEFORE HE IS ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE IN THE PLEA AGREEMENT THAT REDUCED THE MURDER CHARGE FROM 1ST TO SECOND DEGREE