Man sentenced in mom's death

19-year-old gets 25 years in prison for beating mother, setting her on fire

By Jason G. Zencka Journal staff

A town of Hull man was sentenced to 25 years in prison Wednesday for first-degree reckless homicide after killing his mother last August over an altercation about prescription medication.

Judge Frederic Fleishauer issued the sentence, five years more than the minimum, saying the severity of Nicholas W. Lee's "outrageous act" warranted a longer sentence.

"It's not the minimum time I could have imposed; I don't think the minimum is appropriate in light of what you did," said Fleishauer. "Frankly, you could argue that in light of what you did, the maximum was appropriate."

Lee, 19, was arrested after he bludgeoned his mother to death outside their motor home with several items, including a metal rod, a rock and a 40-pound dumbbell, before eventually dousing her in lighter fluid and setting it aflame.

http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070614/SPJ0101/706140509/1983