SC man gets 20 years in death of former minister

ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) — A judge in Rock Hill has sentenced a man to 20 years in prison for his part in the death of a former minister two years ago.

The Herald of Rock Hill reports (http://bit.ly/Jvsvfw) that Circuit Court Judge John Hayes sentenced 51-year-old Christopher Varnadore on Thursday. Varnadore had pleaded guilty last year to voluntary manslaughter, criminal conspiracy and accessory after the fact.

The charges stemmed from the death of 44-year-old Richard Leach.

Varnadore cooperated with authorities in the trial of co-conspirator Steven Spagnoli who was found guilty in April and sentenced to life in prison.

In September of 2010, deputies responded to a home after a gunshot victim called for help. They found Leach dying of a gunshot wound.

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Information from: The Herald, http://www.heraldonline.com

Categories: News, State