(KTTS News) — A man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the shooting death of a Clinton Police officer during a traffic stop in 2017.

A judge gave Ian McCarthy the sentence in the shooting death of Officer Gary Michael.

A jury convicted McCarthy of the crime, but could not decide between life in prison or the death penalty.

Under Missouri law, the judge must then decide.

McCarthy’s attorneys challenged the law as unconstitutional, asking the judge to give their client life in prison.

Press Release

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced today that his office assisted the Henry County Prosecuting Attorney in obtaining a first-degree murder conviction against Ian McCarthy in connection with the 2017 murder of Clinton Police Officer Gary Michael. The Court sentenced McCarthy to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

“As Attorney General, I want to prosecute and put away Missouri’s most dangerous criminals,” said Attorney General Bailey. “My office will continue to fight for justice and to honor those who put their lives on the line for us every day. I’m proud of the work we did in partnership with the Henry County Prosecuting Attorney in this case to do just that.”

On August 6, 2017, Clinton Police Officer Gary Michael pulled over a vehicle being driven by the Defendant for a minor traffic offense.  The Defendant exited his vehicle and shot Officer Michael in the heart one time with a high power rifle. The Defendant fled the scene. After a two-day manhunt, the Defendant was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and unlawful possession of a firearm. 

The murder occurred in Henry County. The Attorney General’s Office was asked to assist the Henry County Prosecuting Attorney.

The case was transferred to Jackson County upon a motion for a change of venue.  Judge Marco Roldan presided over the trial, in which the jury was selected from Platte County. 

After five days of trial, the jury returned a verdict finding the Defendant guilty of murder in the first degree. Sentencing took place today, where the Court sentenced the defendant to life without the possibility of parole.