COLUMBUS, Ohio — A 20-year-old man who pleaded guilty to a charge related to the death of a Columbus mother a year ago was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Gerald Dowling Jr. pleaded guilty in July to involuntary manslaughter. He was also charged with grand theft and receiving stolen property, but those charges were dropped. Dowling was also given credit for 380 days in jail.

Before sentencing, Dowling said he thinks about the night of Stakely's death every day.

"Day and night, I thought about what could happened different. It is very sad and unfortunate that someone lost their life. Those were never my intentions. This has haunted me every day since it happened. And today, I get a chance to repent for my sins," Dowling said.

A woman with the prosecutor's office read a statement

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