HOUSTON (KIAH) — Tony Earls was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the 2022 shooting death of 9-year-old Arlene Alvarez.

He was convicted of manslaughter on Tuesday. The 20-year sentence is the maximum sentence that could be handed out for this crime.

Tony Earls has said he was shooting at a robber when he hit the vehicle carrying Alvarez in the Gulfgate area three years ago.

On Thursday, closing arguments began in the case.

On Wednesday, he asked the jury to forgive him, while Arlene's mother testified that her family has been traumatized since she died.

The prosecution started with its first witness--a store owner that earls and his stepson, Knowledge, often visited. The store owner says that he would pay earls to help out around the store. His stepson was a regular customer.

The

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