A 22-year old Akron man is handed a life prison sentence for the murder of a local soldier and the robbery of another man.

Summit County Judge Mary Margaret Rowlands sentenced Chad Stephens, 22, of Baird Street in Akron, to life in prison for the Murder of Kim Slayko . A jury found Stephens guilty of Murder and two counts of Aggravated Robbery, on May 15.

On August 23, Stephens set up a meeting to sell Opana, a painkiller, to a man he met at an Akron gas station. When the victim arrived at the meeting spot, he was robbed at gunpoint of several hundred dollars by an accomplice of Stephens. The following week, on August 31, Stephens arranged to meet and sell Opana to the victim, Kim Slayko. Stephens failed to show up. When Slayko called him to see where he was, Stephens claimed he wanted to make sure Slayko was not a police officer and then set up a second meeting spot. When Slayko arrived at the next meeting, he was jumped by two men who attempted to rob him. He called Stephens and set up a third meeting spot, this time on Baughman Avenue in Akron. When Slayko arrived and met Stephens, Slayko went behind a house, where he was shot and killed.

Kim Slayko had served tours of duty in Afghanistan.

Chad Stephens will be eligible for parole after serving 23 years in prison.