U.S. District Court Judge Sandy Mattice sentenced Kathleen Mathews to 30 years and six months for her role in helping her son escape from a Colorado halfway house, sell guns he stole and withhold information from investigators after a Chattanooga police sergeant was shot and killed during a botched robbery on Brainerd Road last year.
Jesse Mathews is charged with murder in the death of Chattanooga police Sgt. Tim Chapin.
Ray Mathews, Jesse Mathews' father, was sentenced to 20 years and 10 months, sister Rachel Mathews recieved an 11-year, three-month sentence and James Poteete, Rachel Mathews' boyfriend, was given 6 years and 7 months.
Mattice said this morning that he would allow the shooting death of Chapin to be considered when sentencing the suspect's parents and sister, although they weren't involved in the shooting.
The trio were in federal court today to be sentenced after pleading guilty to crimes that took place before and after the killing of Chapin.
For complete details, see tomorrow's Times Free Press.