NEWTON, N.C. — A Lenoir man was sentenced on Monday after pleading guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter, for an incident that occurred in 2014.
Bobby Dean Sparks, 63, was sentenced to serve seven to nine years following his guilty plea for stabbing 48-year-old Sammy William Sturgill.
Police Responded to a domestic disturbance on June 24, 2014 at Sparks’ residence, and found Sturgill lying on the ground unresponsive as Sturgill attempted to flee on foot. Sturgill was declared dead shortly thereafter.
Sparks said that he killed Sturgill in self defense after Sturgill attempted to stab him. According to the autopsy report, Sturgill suffered multiple stab wounds to the abdomen and chest, as well as slashes to the face and neck, and cuts to his hands.
