VALPARAISO | A 24-year-old Valparaiso man was sentenced Friday to 40 years behind bars for the 2009 shooting death of his mother's fiance.
Edward Ibarra was sentenced by Porter Superior Court Judge Bill Alexa according to the terms of a plea agreement struck with prosecutors.
Ibarra pleaded guilty late last month to voluntary manslaughter, which had been reduced from murder. In return, prosecutors agreed to a 50-year sentence, with 10 suspended and to be served on formal probation.
Ibarra told the court last month he had an altercation with his mother's boyfriend, 33-year-old Juan Garcia, on Oct. 30, 2009, at their home at 308 Morgan Blvd. in Valparaiso.
Ibarra said he left the house with his girlfriend and returned later that night, at which time he was struck by Garcia. Ibarra said he pulled out a 9 mm handgun and as Garcia attempted to flee, he shot Garcia multiple times.
Ibarra could wind up serving half or less of the 40-year prison term with good behavior and participation in various prison programs. He will receive credit for the time he has served since his arrest in the case.
Ibarra initially was found incompetent to stand trial in March 2010 and was committed to the state mental hospital in Logansport for treatment and further evaluation.
The hospital claimed to have restored him to competency. Yet after being returned to a county jail, he was again found incompetent to stand trial in 2011.
Ibarra recently was returned to the Porter County Jail after mental health professionals determined him competent.
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