Judge Upholds Recommendation Chancey Luna Spend Life In Prison Without Parole

A judge upheld the jury's recommendation of life in prison without the possibility of parole, Tuesday afternoon in the murder case of Australian baseball player, Christopher Lane. Chancey Luna was found guilty of First-Degree Murder in April after investigators said he shot and killed 22-year-old Lane while he was jogging in Duncan, Okla.

The defense filed notice to appeal, saying they disagree with the verdict and sentence.

Prosecutors had recommended the judge uphold the jury's recommendation of life without parole pointing out Luna refused to cooperate with a pre-sentencing investigation. Still, the pre-sentence investigation found Luna was a member of the rolling 90 Crips and sold drugs for three years prior to the murder. District Attorney Jason Hicks also pointed out as Luna stood before Judge Ken Graham Tuesday, his orange jumpsuit said "Crip for life."

4/17/2015 Related Story: Chancey Luna Found Guilty In Murder Of Christopher Lane In Duncan

Defense attorney Jim Berry argued Luna was only 16 at the time of the crime and should've been tried as a youthful offender. The defense entered a notice to appeal.

Judge Graham responded to the arguments by upholding the jury's recommendation and sentencing Luna to life in prison without possibility of parole. Judge Graham said, "I understand he was 16 and I understand he is only 18 today, but we are talking about an innocent young man [Christopher Lane] not too much older who was jogging the streets of Oklahoma and for no reason was shot in the back and killed. "

8/21/2013 Related Story: Duncan Community Remembers Christopher Lane

Judge also ordered Luna to jointly (with co-defendant Jones and Edwards) pay $17,193 in restitution with approximately $9,000 awarded to Lane's father for his travel expenses during trial and the remainder to the state's victim compensation fund to assist with Lane's funeral expenses.