USA - Nevada. Judge Norman Robison today resentenced 55-year-old Kelly Rhyne to life in prison

Elko County District Judge Norman Robison today resentenced 55-year-old Kelly Rhyne to life in prison with the possibility of parole after the man pleaded guilty to 2nd-degree murder in a deal with prosecutors. The man was sentenced to die for a 1998 murder. The new sentence that gives him credit for 16 years of time served and makes him eligible for parole immediately. "Mr. Rhyne, you've spent a lot of time in maximum security, and I hope you've learned from it," Robison said. The state Supreme Court twice upheld Rhyne's 1st-degree conviction in the beating death of Donald "Lobo" Brown. But Robison overturned it in 2010, ruling Rhyne was mentally incompetent at his 1st trial and his lawyers were unqualified to handle a death penalty case. Prosecutors agreed to a plea bargain rather than retrying the case. In granting Rhyne credit for 5,891 days served, Robison said he thought the lesser charge and punishment were appropriate. "I also feel the penalty imposed by the jury was excessive," the judge said.