Schwander was sentenced to 40 years in prison
TRAVERSE CITY -- A Traverse City teenager will spend no less than 40 years in prison for killing Carly Lewis.
Judge Thomas Powers sentenced Robert Jensen Schwander, 18, to at least 40 years, but not more than 70 for the crime. According to sentencing guidelines Schwander could have faced 13 and a half years to life in prison.
During Friday's hearing Carly's mom, dad, and brother all read statements. Schwander also read a statement before Judge Powers handed down his sentence.
Susie Ooley Lewis tearfully says, "You cheated everyone Jensen, her grandparents, aunts, uncles, the whole community mourns for her. Jensen I feel so betrayed, I took you into my home on a cold winter night you had nowhere to go. I opened my heart to you."
Todd Lewis says , "You Jensen, are every parent's worst nightmare. A coward, the lowest of low, a child killer. You threw my daughter's life away like it was garbage to rot."
Schwander was found guilty of 2nd Degree Murder last month. Carly Lewis, 16, was found dead in a sandpile in Traverse City in June.
Schwander's attorney, Craig Elhart tells 7&4 News that he will file an appeal. He says the reason is because the judge's sentence more than tripled what the guidelines recommended.
