A Ross County man who once faced a possible life sentence on a murder charge was instead sentenced to 18 months in prison Monday after pleading guilty in April to a reduced charge. Ross County Common Pleas Judge Scott W. Nusbaum sentenced James Wilson on one count of reckless homicide stemming from the Aug. 2 death of 45-year-old Nathan McGlone.

A Ross County man who once faced a possible life sentence on a murder charge was instead sentenced to 18 months in prison Monday after pleading guilty in April to a reduced charge.



Ross County Common Pleas Judge Scott W. Nusbaum sentenced James Wilson on one count of reckless homicide stemming from the Aug. 2 death of 45-year-old Nathan McGlone.



Authorities said Wilson shot McGlone, a friend of his, in the face Aug. 2 after McGlone and Wilson's wife, Lori, returned to the Wilsons' home on Jefferson Street in Chillicothe after they had taken what they said was a platonic trip to the beach together.



McGlone died on Aug. 7.



After the murder charge was filed and the case progressed, the versions of what happened inside the house changed, said Ross County Prosecutor Matthew Schmidt. Wilson's defense team also ordered additional forensic testing that showed DNA from both McGlone and Wilson on the 9 mm handgun that had been used.



"That seemed to bolster the story that there was some sort of an argument, a struggle and the gun went off," Schmidt said. He said that McGlone's family supported the reduced charge, or the offer to the defense of a plea agreement never would have been made.



Wilson apologized to McGlone's family during the hearing, and spoke specifically to his daughters.



The Wilsons are no longer together but a divorce has not been finalized.