Scott Cambre

In an emotionally charged hearing Monday, Scott Cambre pled guilty to the Oct. 31, 2014 murder of Wesley Brooks and was sentenced to 45 years in state prison.

Dressed in jail black and white stripes, and shackled hand and foot, Cambre, 29, quietly entered the plea confessing he shot the 28-year-old Bowie man and then attempted to dispose of the body in a burn pit behind his house.

District Attorney Paige Williams said the sentence was suitable for the case considering all the factors adding, “it is my job to seek justice not just confinement.”

The DA said the defendant had no criminal history and was a veteran, which were other contributing factors. Williams said the late Lt. Rick Beckham of the Bowie Police Department built a strong case, but it also would have been difficult to move forward without the lead detective as the key witness.

“Taking it all into consideration, 45 years is appropriate. He will have to serve a minimum of half his time before he is considered for parole, which would be about 22 and a half years, including the time served credit,” said Williams.

Wesley Brooks

The reading of the victim impact statements was heart-wrenching as anger, pain and loss poured from Brooks’ sisters, wife and mother.

Angela Garcia, Brooks’ oldest sister and one of three siblings, broke down several times during her statement, “we were three and now we are two, thank you Scott,” said Garcia.

 Paula Terry, mother of Wesley Brooks, walked to the witness stand carrying a framed photo of her son and glared out to Scott Cambre, exclaiming he had taken her only son.

“It is inconceivable what you did. You have no compassion. You knew what you were doing, it was a horrific and gruesome act.”

Read the full story in the mid-week News.