ELYRIA — Alverno Howse was sentenced today to 13 years in prison for the killing Charles “Chuckie” Howard Jr.

Howse continued to maintain that he had nothing to do with Howard’s Aug. 19 death, telling Lorain County Common Pleas Judge Mark Betleski that the judge was sending an innocent man to prison.

Howard’s father, the Rev. Charles “Chuckie” Howard Sr., told Howse that he didn’t want revenge and that no amount of prison time would bring his son back. He urged Howse to give himself to Christ.

“I consider that a life for a life,” the elder Howard said.

Howse was convicted last month of reckless homicide and tampering with evidence following a trial plagued by shifting witness testimony and allegations of intimidation on the part of Howse’s supporters. Police and prosecutors contend that Howse is a member of M.A. Zone, an Elyria gang.

But Howse said today that there was no proof he was in a gang.

Read Tuesday’s Chronicle for more on this story.