Judge trims 2 years off sentence in girl's slaying

TRAVERSE CITY (AP) -- A judge has trimmed two years off a sentence for a young man convicted of fatally stabbing a teenage girl in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula and burying her in a sand pile. Grand Traverse County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Power had sentenced Robert Schwander to 40-70 years, exceeding the minimum recommended under state guidelines. A jury found Schwander guilty of second-degree murder in the 2011 death of 16-year-old Carly Lewis of Traverse City. The Michigan Court of Appeals, however, recently told Power he failed to explain why he exceeded the guidelines. Power was ordered to explain the decision or resentence Schwander, who now is 19. The Traverse City Record-Eagle reports Power last week reduced Schwander's minimum sentence to 38 years. Power said, however, he already explained the initial sentence. Published: Mon, Feb 25, 2013