Man Gets 40 Years In La. Beating Death

A 28-year-old man who admitted to beating a Lake Charles man to death in August of 2009, has been sentenced to serve 40 years in prison.

Judge Kent Savoie said Wednesday a lesser sentence "would deprecate the seriousness" of the offense.

The American Press reports Phillip Cooks of Lake Charles pleaded guilty Sept. 27 in the death of 58-year-old Robert Cannon.