Man gets 20 years in prison in Milford killing

MILFORD, Conn. (AP) — A New Haven man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for kidnapping in connection with the 2009 killing of another man in Milford over the alleged theft of more than 17 pounds of cocaine.

The New Haven Register reports (http://bit.ly/Xclczc ) that 38-year-old Javier Cruz-Falcon was sentenced Thursday in Milford Superior Court.

A jury convicted him in January of kidnapping 28-year-old Jose Chevere of New Haven, but was deadlocked on murder and capital felony charges. Cruz-Falcon's first trial last year ended with a hung jury.

Prosecutors say Cruz-Falcon and two other men were involved Chevere's killing. Authorities say the men believed Chevere stole more than 17 pounds of cocaine worth more than $500,000 from them.

The two other defendants pleaded guilty to kidnapping charges and await sentencing.

___

Information from: New Haven Register, http://www.nhregister.com