HARTINGTON, Neb. (KTIV) – A Louisiana man involved in a fatal shooting in Northeast Nebraska was given his sentence this week after a jury found him guilty of a lesser charge.

Court documents show 22-year-old David Phillips Jr. was sentenced to a minimum of four years in prison to a maximum of 20 years in prison. During his sentencing, Phillips was given credit for 509 days already served, which is over a year taken off his sentence.

Back in April, a jury found Phillips guilty of manslaughter in the death of his co-worker, 31-year-old Israel Matos-Colon. Phillips was originally facing a second-degree murder charge but the charge was dropped to manslaughter. He was also facing one count of use of a deadly firearm and one count of possession of a stolen firearm, but the jury found him not guilty of those charges.

These charges stem from a deadly shooting in Cedar County, Nebraska back in March 2023. Authorities say Phillips shot Matos-Colon multiple times during an altercation at a tower site about two miles from Hartington. Phillips argued the shooting was in self-defense.

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LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Nebraska’s attorney general is trying to stamp out a federal change in marijuana regulations.

Attorney General Mike Hilgers submitted a public comment letter opposing the U.S. Justice Department’s proposal to classify cannabis as a schedule III drug instead of a schedule I drug.

Schedule III drugs are considered less dangerous and addictive, so they aren’t regulated as tightly.

SEE ALSO: Nebraska medical marijuana initiative rolls on after proposed reclassification

But Hilgers said it is a “myth” that marijuana is safe.

“The Biden Administration’s effort ignores the science, ignores our decades-old treaty obligations, and ignores the law,” he said in a press release.

The 40-page letter says the schedule change would be unlawful for several reasons, including that it was requested by Attorney General Merrick Garland instead of the administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Attorneys general from 10 other states joined Hilgers in signing the letter: Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, South Carolina and South Dakota.

Monday was the end of the public comment period on the proposed regulation change.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A Louisiana man was sentenced Monday for killing his co-worker in northeast Nebraska.

Judge Bryan Meismer sentenced 22-year-old David Phillips Jr. to two to 20 years in prison for manslaughter.

With credit for 509 days served behind bars, Phillips will be eligible for parole immediately.

On March 1, 2023, Phillips killed Israel Matos-Colon during an argument at a job site near Hartington, in Cedar County.

He was upset that Matos-Colon had talked about his mother, according to court documents, and shot him multiple times.