Oskaloosa — A Lawrence man convicted of planning a burglary that ended in the beating of an elderly Perry man two years ago is going to prison for 21 years.
Timothy J. James, 40, was sentenced Thursday by Jefferson County District Court Judge Gary Nafziger for aiding and abetting aggravated kidnapping.
James also was sentenced to 59 months or nearly five years for aiding and abetting aggravated robbery and 32 months for aiding and abetting aggravated burglary. The sentences will be served concurrently with the 21-year sentence.
Last June, James was convicted of the charges in a jury trial. Jefferson County Atty. Jim Vanderbilt prosecuted, arguing that James masterminded the February 1999 invasion of the Perry man's home.
James' son by marriage, Chris S. James, then 18, and Mike D. Manis, then 19, both of Lawrence, were convicted for their parts in the incident a few months later. They are serving 101-month prison sentences.
James declined comment to Nafziger. His attorney, Jim Rumsey, said it was unfair that James received harsher sentences than Chris James and Manis.
"They were ones who actually did the harm," Rumsey said. "Clearly, Mr. James maintains his innocence."
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