HOLLAND, Michigan — A Georgia man who was found guilty in the 2023 murder of a Covert man was sentenced Monday.
James Leonard Taylor will spend a minimum of 23 years in prison after being found guilty of second-degree murder and felony firearm in June.
The charges are in connection to the shooting death of 54-year-old Aaron James Barlow from Covert.
That shooting happened outside an apartment building in the 1000 block of Abbey Court in Holland on March 3, 2023.
First responders found Barlow inside a car with multiple gunshot wounds, and despite being given medical attention, he died at the scene. It was revealed during the trial that Barlow had been shot six times at point-blank range.
Taylor then led police on an hours-long chase after running from the scene around 3 a.m.
During Taylor's sentencing hearing, the court heard from Barlow's mother and two of his sisters. His mother said the loss has changed their family.
"Since my son was taken from us, not a single day has passed without an acute awareness of his absence," she said. "Aaron was not just a son, he was a beacon of kindness in our lives, and whose future was as promising as his presence was uplifting."
She went on to express concern about Taylor being released, saying he should serve a life sentence.
“I just ask you to consider the life that was lost, the lives forever altered, and the safety and well-being of society," she said. "Granting a life sentence is not going to bring Aaron back, but it may offer a semblance of justice and safety ensuring that no other mother has to stand here where I am today.”
The prosecuting attorney argued that Taylor showed "no remorse or empathy," and that he believed a shorter sentence could be a public safety issue.
“(Taylor's) views of crime and punishment are chilling,” he said.
Taylor's attorney responded by saying that snippets from conversations should not be considered as reasoning for a stricter sentence, saying that it doesn't show the full picture. He also said that Taylor does not have a history of gun violence and asked for the minimum sentence.
Judge Jon Hulsing, who presided over the case, said Taylor showed a "coldness" that necessitated the maximum sentence under the guidelines.
“You don’t seem to recognize the gravity of your actions," he told Taylor.
For the felony firearm charge, Taylor was sentenced to two years in prison with a credit for 507 days served. For the murder charge, he was sentenced to a minimum of 270 months.
He will also pay nearly $16,000 in restitution.