Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Billy J. Craig Jr., who entered a “no contest” plea and was found guilty of “conspiracy to commit first-degree murder” was sentenced Friday to the maximum sentence by Reno County District Judge Tim Chambers.

Craig, 52, was sentenced to 184-months, or just over 15-years in prison.

Craig was found guilty of conspiring with Charles Christopher Logsdon to rob and kill another woman over drugs and money and went to the wrong house when they killed Jennifer Heckel while her 10-year-old son was in the next room.

In return for Craig’s plea, the state agreed to dismiss all other charges pending in the murder case and dismiss two pending cases against him. One involved distribution of drugs and the other a financial fraud crime.

A jury convicted Logsdon of first-degree murder and other related charges. He received a 73-year sentence. His case is currently on appeal.