A Miami County, Ohio judge sentenced Caleb Flynn to life in prison without parole on Monday after a jury convicted him last week of aggravated murder and related charges in the killing of his wife, Ashley, 37.
Prosecutors said Flynn shot his wife twice in the back of the head on February 16 and staged the scene as a break-in; the 9mm handgun was never recovered. The state argued the 40-year-old music pastor — who appeared on "American Idol" and led music at a church in the Dayton area — was carrying on an affair at the time.
The judge cited what the court called layers of deceit, manipulation and cruelty. Flynn maintained his innocence while apologizing to his family and the couple's two young daughters.
Under the sentence, Flynn must first serve 16 years on firearm-specification and evidence-tampering counts before the life term begins. He was also ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution. TMZ's TMZ Minute recapped the sentencing in its October 5 broadcast.
