Man gets 20 to 40 years in beating death

Man gets 20 to 40 years in beating death

UNIONTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A man has been sentenced to 20 to 40 years in the slaying of an elderly man that authorities said stemmed from a love triangle involving the younger man’s girlfriend.

A Fayette County jury last week convicted 37-year-old Jonathan Godines of Brownsville of third-degree murder, aggravated assault and related charges in the November 2011 death of 75-year-old John Eicholtz.

Witnesses testified that they saw Godines pull Eicholtz from his car and kick and punch him, and a second beating later took place on a sidewalk. Eicholtz was treated for a stroke and later died of pneumonia. Relatives testified Thursday about what his loss has meant to them.

Godines, who plans an appeal, has denied that the fight was due to jealousy and cited a traffic dispute.