GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — A man serving a life sentence for a 45-year-old murder in Charlotte has had a second life sentence reduced.
According to court records, Lester Barnett was 18 years old when he confessed to shooting a store clerk in the Smallwood Community.
He is also serving a sentence of seven years to life for safecracking and attempted robbery in Gaston County.
Allegedly, those crimes happened hours apart.
An appeals court ruled that he was a youthful offender in the Gaston County cases.
On Tuesday, a judge changed the consolidated sentences to seven years.
He is still serving a life sentence for the murder that occurred in the Charlotte area.
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