Four weeks after he was found guilty of murdering 24-year-old Michael Hogg on New Year’s Day 2014, and attempting to kill three other people, Huffman was formally sentenced to life in prison. Victim impact statements were read during Friday’s hearing, all asking special Letcher Circuit Judge Kent Hendrickson to follow the jury’s recommended life sentence. Those statements included one from Hogg’s mother, who talked about living life without her only son.
Hendrickson ultimately followed a portion of the jury’s recommended sentence. However, not all of the jury’s recommendations were followed.
A Supreme Court opinion on Kentucky Law prohibits those convicted of crimes to be sentenced to more than a life-term in prison. The jury in Huffman’s murder trial had recommended Huffman serve life, plus 45 years — the total of the life sentence plus the sentences handed down for the three attempted murder charges and a criminal mischief charge — all to run consecutively. Hendrickson ordered the sentences to run concurrent, in accordance with state law.
Still, Letcher Commonwealth’s Attorney Edison Banks said the outcome of the trial was a clear victory. Huffman’s defense attorney Robert Wright, who told the Appalachian News-Express that Huffman did not receive a fair and unbiased trial, stated again that he plans to appeal the outcome of the trial.
Huffman’s co-defendant in the murder of Michael Hogg, Patrick Smith, has yet to stand trial. Banks said a status conference in the case will be held in the coming weeks.
Huffman was remanded to the custody of the Letcher County Jail until he can be transferred to state prison. Michael Hogg’s family declined to comment on-camera following the sentencing.
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