McGaha sentenced to 20 years for murder

Jeff McGaha was sentenced to 20 years Tuesday for the June 2011 murder of Michael Cowan.

Before Judge James Bowling gave his final decision on sentencing, defense attorney W. Currie Milliken submitted a request for a second trial because he discovered that a member of the jury from the trial was a “Facebook friend” of a member of the Cowan family.

Commonwealth’s attorney Brian Wright argued that being a “Facebook friend” didn’t prove that the jury member was actually friends with the member of the Cowan family or that it caused any conflict with their ability as a juror. Judge Bowling denied the request for another trial.

Bowling decided after going over victim statements, he would go with the recommended sentence of 20 years with credit for time served.

McGaha was found guilty of the murder of Cowan after nearly a weeklong trial in early December.