Man Handed 180-Year Sentence For Role In Quadruple Homicide

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ An Oklahoma County judge handed down a 180-year prison sentence to a Midwest City man for his role in a quadruple homicide on Memorial Day 2005. <br/><br/>Arthur James Wilder's

Saturday, January 6th 2007, 2:10 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ An Oklahoma County judge handed down a 180-year prison sentence to a Midwest City man for his role in a quadruple homicide on Memorial Day 2005.

Arthur James Wilder's attorney called the sentence excessive because there was no evidence Wilder was present when four people were gunned down May 30, 2005, at a trailer park in southeast Oklahoma City.

Defense lawyer George Miskovsky III vowed to secure Wilder a sentence more in line with two other men convicted in connection with the case. Both men are serving significantly shorter sentences

``I will do everything possible to obtain modification of what I consider to be an excessive sentence for my client,'' Miskovsky said.

Prosecutors and three relatives of shooting victim James ``Donnie'' Swindle had asked for a life sentence for Wilder, he said.

Wilder, 26, is one of 10 people to face criminal charges after the shootings, although proceedings against Earl Postelle have been delayed because he was deemed incompetent to stand trial.

Randal Wade Byus and brothers David and Gilbert Postelle are charged with four counts of first-degree murder. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against the men.

Patsy Postelle and Eugenia and Robert Ashcraft face accessory charges accusing them of helping hide evidence.

Daniel Ashcraft and Alvis Sanders pleaded guilty to concealing a van used in the slayings.

Daniel Ashcraft was ordered to serve 12 years of a 25-year sentence, while Sanders was sentenced to less than four years.

Wilder was accused of concealing an assault rifle used in the deaths of Swindle, Amy J. Wright, Terry L. Smith and James D. Alderson.

Miskovsky said Wilder received a harsher sentence because he refused to identify David Postelle, his cousin, as the person who returned the rifle to a Midwest City storage unit.