Crime & Safety
Sturtevant Man Gets 38 Years for Shooting Death
Scott Mertins will spend the next 38 years in prison for shooting a man to death in Yorkville in August 2012.
Telling Scott Mertins that he understands he just ordered him a life sentence, Racine County Circuit Court Judge Charles Constantine handed down 38 years Monday for the killing of a man last summer in Yorkville.
Mertins pleaded no contest last June to first degree reckless homicide for the shooting death of Robert Greene on August 26, 2012. Greene and his girlfriend were visiting the owner of the farm and asleep in the pole barn when Greene was awakened by a noise. When he went to investigate, he stumbled upon Mertins, who shot him.
Mertin's defense attorney told the court that Mertins had been drinking all day when he decided to visit the farm to retrieve some of his belongings, according to a story in The Journal Times.
"I can't believe I'm the one responsible for taking a man's life. I know there's nothing I can say to make them feel better," Mertins is quoted as saying Monday. "I met Rob a few times. I liked the guy. I didn't mean to harm anybody."
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