ALFRED — Justice Paul A. Fritzsche sentenced Richard Dalli to the maximum 30 years in prison, with all but 20 years suspended, for the death of John Wheeler.
Dalli pleaded guilty to manslaughter in mid-October following a mistrial in September in which he was charged with murder for stabbing Wheeler. The stabbing occurred at Dalli’s York home after several people, including Wheeler and his girlfriend Claire Cardin, spent Labor Day weekend in 2008 partying at the house on Rogers Road.
In York County Superior Court Monday, Fritzsche said he imposed the maximum sentence a manslaughter conviction can carry due to the crime being one of the more serious ways to commit manslaughter and the probability of death involved with stabbing someone.
“While you never intended this,” Fritzsche said, speaking to Dalli in court Monday, “there’s still the fact that you make certain decisions knowing something bad could happen.”
Fritzsche also sentenced Dalli to four years of probation following his release from prison. Assistant Attorney General Lisa Marchese said with good behavior, Dalli would serve about 14 to 15 years before becoming eligible for parole.
“The sentence was well thought out,” Marchese said following the hearing. “The sentence reflects compassion on one hand, and on the other hand, the gravity of the offense.”
Marchese recommended the maximum sentence be set at 30 years with all but 25 years suspended, while defense attorney Sarah Churchill recommended the maximum sentence be 15 years with all but 10 years suspended. Churchill argued that Dalli was remorseful for the crime and that his mental health and substance abuse issues should be mitigating factors in sentencing.
Dalli spoke at the sentencing reiterating his remorse and apologizing for his actions.
“I realize that John’s loved ones are suffering,” Dalli read from a prepared statement. “I am terribly ashamed and sorry.”
No one else was present who asked to address the court. Fritzsche said several of Wheeler’s friends and family, including his mother, sent letters to the court prior to sentencing.
Marchese said Dalli will most likely serve his time at the state prison in Warren, but where he serves his sentence will be decided by the Department of Corrections.
— Staff Writer Robyn Burnham can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 329 or rburnham@journaltribune.com. Staff Writer Dina Mendros contributed to this story.
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