Vestal Man Pleas Guilty to Manslaughter

12/14/2012 (Updated 10:50:29 PM)

And the 20-year-old Vestal man who killed his 16-year-old girlfriend in June will spend 18 years in prison.

Steven Lipka was sentenced Friday. He pled guilty in September to First-Degree Manslaughter in the strangling death of Shelby Jenkins.

Jenkins was the mother of Lipka's baby daughter. Lipka said little in court other than that he was sorry. Jenkins' mother and friend told the court about Jenkins' life and how her loss has affected them.

"I think the eighteen years, although they'll never satisfy the family, was certainly-- given that Mr. Lipka was willing to accept responsibility and plead guilty-- was an appropriate disposition of the charges," said Chief Assistant District Attorney Joann Parry.

Prosecutors say Lipka strangled Jenkins after he had been drinking heavily.