ST. JOSEPH, Mich. (AP) - A southwestern Michigan man whose drunken girlfriend froze to death after he chastised her on video for being intoxicated and left her on an unheated enclosed porch has been sentenced to prison.
Charles Campbell Jr., 49, earlier pleaded guilty in an agreement with prosecutors to involuntary manslaughter in the Feb. 22, 2014, death of 32-year-old Tamika Hurd. On Monday, he was sentenced in a Berrien County courtroom to 19 months to 15 years in prison.
"I'm sorry it happened, but I tried to help her," Campbell told the court. "It hurts me."
Judge Angela Pasula disagreed, saying Hurd's death was "avoidable, unnecessary and tragic," The Herald-Palladium of St. Joseph reported.
"You did not try to help her, on this occasion. ... There's a fine line between tough love and compassion. The victim was highly intoxicated and your failure to assist her may have risen to cruelty," the judge told Campbell before sentencing him.
Hurd was dropped off drunk at a Benton Township home where she lived with Campbell.
Authorities said Hurd showered and was wet when she went outside in temperatures between 24 and 27 degrees without a coat, hat, boots or gloves. According to prosecutors, video recorded by Campbell shows Hurd was too intoxicated to help herself.
Campbell later went shopping.
Defense lawyer Jim Jesse said Campbell brought Hurd from outside the home onto the enclosed porch, and that her intoxication was entirely voluntary.
"On the tape, he is chastising her for it," Jesse said.
Assistant Prosecutor Cortney O'Malley said that on the recording "he can be heard berating her and belittling her. Then he leaves her on the porch and goes to sleep. She has no phone, and she cannot summon help."
O'Malley said text messages sent to Hurd's mother earlier showed that Campbell was angry at his girlfriend and her brother for going out.
Published: Thu, Dec 10, 2015
