Man gets 30 years in killing

William Harrison Blackwell pleaded guilty Monday to first-degree murder in the 1988 slaying of James Neal Jennings.

Ector County District Attorney Bobby Bland said he's pleased with Blackwell's 30-year sentence considering the circumstantial nature of the case.

"The case had holes in it," Bland said. "Twenty years later, those holes don't get any smaller."

Authorities arrested Blackwell in October 2006 in North Carolina for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He had been hiding under the name John Downey for 19 years.

Blackwell posted bond and was released from jail before authorities linked his fingerprints to the Ector County case. He was arrested Jan. 18, 2007, in Universal City, Texas.

A warrant was issued for Blackwell's arrest right after Jennings' body was found riddled with bullets and burning on a mattress at 7517 Andrews Highway.

Bland said while there were no eyewitnesses, someone saw Blackwell in Jennings' truck after the killing. Witnesses also saw Blackwell around the area where the killing took place.

Blackwell gave a statement after his arrest claiming he witnessed the killing but was not responsible for it.

"Considering that it's been 20 years since this murder was committed and that the defendant is 55 years old, I feel like 30 years was an appropriate sentence based on what we had available," Bland said. "I've talked the family, and they're satisfied that justice was finally served and that the person who's responsible for the murder of their loved one was convicted of the crime."