Thornton receives sentences totaling 208 months

About two months after being convicted, Fred Thornton received his sentence Monday afternoon.

Thornton will serve two consecutive sentences of 165 months in prison for attempted murder in the first degree and 43 months in prison for aggravated assault. He will also serve two concurrent sentences of 12 months for violation of a court order and six months for criminal trespass. Thornton's total sentence will be 208 months within the Kansas Department of Corrections.

In addition, Thornton will be required to register as a violent person which will also reflect that the crime committed involved a deadly weapon.

Prior to sentencing, Thornton's attorney, Harry Warren, asked the court to consider Thornton's health when deciding on a sentence.

"He tells me he believes he will die in prison because of his health," Warren said. He added that the sentence, which amounts to 17 years and three months of incarceration, is essentially a life sentence.

Thornton was found guilty of attempted murder in the first degree as a result of his participation in the Sept. 15, 2008, incident in which Carol Keele was nearly beaten to death in her Bronson home. Thornton and his daughter, Laura Thornton, were both arrested for their involvement in the beating.

Laura Thornton pleaded no contest to aiding and abetting aggravated battery, after the original counts of aiding and abetting attempted murder in the first degree, aiding and abetting aggravated battery, and domestic battery were amended to the single charge of aiding and abetting aggravated battery. She received a 36-month probation sentence for the crime rather than the original 32-month jail sentence, which was suspended.

Keele was present in the courtroom for the sentencing, however, she declined the opportunity to address the court.