By HOI ABC
BLOOMINGTON – A Bloomington man is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison for killing a Peoria woman, who was stabbed 105 times in a Twin-Cities motel room three years ago.
A jury last December found Kyle Brestan, 35, guilty of first degree murder. Brestan was eligible for a life sentence because the jury determined Shannon Hastings, 27, died from a crime in May of 2017 that was “exceptionally brutal” or “heinous” and “indicative of wanton cruelty.”
According to our news partner HOI ABC, Judge Casey Costigan sentenced Brestan to 60-years in prison. Prosecutors recommended the judge impose a life sentence, while Brestan’s attorney Stephanie Wong pleaded for a sentence of 20 to 25 years. Wong said a sentence more than that amounted to a life sentence.
During the hearing, Brestan told the judge he’s sorry for what happened to Hastings. He claimed they were best friends.
Brestan will have to serve all 60-years under the truth-in-sentencing law, and he won’t start serving the time until he completes a 36-year sentence for his guilty plea last November to four possession of child pornography charges.
In return for that guilty plea, prosecutors dismissed 23 other charges, including allegations that he sexually molested a child in a case that came to light when Bloomington Police investigated Hastings’ murder.
It’s expected Brestan will appeal his murder conviction.
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