Stanton Pearce, 54, pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence on Friday in connection with the 2016 murder of Luis Martinez, 62. Pearce was originally charged with murder along with two co-defendants.
Pearce was sentenced in Smith County to 40 years and 10 years concurrently (in other words, he will serve a 40-year sentence).
Martinez’ burned body was found in a cemetery. He was shot to death.
According to a sworn affidavit, Rebecca Bond, 37, of Tyler, killed Martinez with a .22 rifle in the backyard of a residence. Pearce and Laurie Stone Perry, 56, moved the body.
The affidavit said Pearce collected shell casings, ripped out the wall to locate bullets and cleaned up blood.
The charges against his codefendants were still pending.
(Easttexasmatters.com contributed to this report.)
