An Atmore man was recently sentenced in a case that left a Perdido area man — the defendant’s step-son — dead.

James Bethea was sentenced by Judge David Jordan on a manslaughter charge and was ordered to serve a 15-year sentence as a result of the charge.

Jordan agreed to a split sentence in the case, which will put Bethea behind bars for three years. He will be required to serve an additional five years on supervised probation, Jordan said. Bethea will also be required to pay court costs, restitution and other fees ordered by the court.

According to reports in October 2012, at the time the shooting occurred on Pleasant View Drive, Bethea was charged with murder in the death of the 17-year-old man. The charged was later reduced to manslaughter.

At the time of the incident, Investigators with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department said they believed the incident was the result of a domestic altercation between Bethea, his wife and the minor.