Former Michigan State Spartans guard Keith Appling has been sentenced in his murder trial after pleading guilty in February. He appeared before Judge Michael Hathaway and received 18 to 40 years in prison. Appling pled guilty to second-degree murder after a fatal shooting that led t the death of his extended family member. The plea deal that he agreed to dropped the charge of first-degree murder and three other felony weapons counts. This has been a long period in the justice system after Appling was charged back in the summer of 2021. Now Appling will spend decades in prison.
Ex-MSU basketball player Keith Appling sentenced 18-40 years on murder charge https://t.co/US18GCnULY pic.twitter.com/r9SRIaLT6Q
— FOX 2 Detroit (@FOX2News) March 4, 2023
Keith Appling spent four years with the Michigan State Spartans in college before playing professional basketball. In the NBA he did have two small stints with the Orlando Magic but spent most of his professional playing career in oversea leagues. How long Appling spends in prison will largely be determined by several different factors moving forward.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said the following in a statement about the case: “What an extremely sad turn of events for a man that once had a promising future. This was a senseless crime, and the fact remains that his victim will never know another day of life.”
