A 20 year old Ogden man will serve over 26 years in prison for violently shaking his girlfriends baby back in March that resulted in the infants death.

On March 15th, 2013 Michael Dechant was watching his girlfriend’s six month old child, Dominick Lubrano in an Ogden apartment. While Dominick was in his care Dechant violently shook the child. Three days later Lubrano was pronounced dead at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City of non-accidental head trauma, otherwise known as shaken baby syndrome.

According to a plea agreement, Dechant pleaded no contest to second degree murder in November. The agreement was accepted by Riley County District Court Judge, David Stutzman. Stutzman found Dechant guilty of second degree murder in the death of Dominick Lubrano.

During Monday’s sentencing hearing Stutzman sentenced Dechant to 321 months in jail.

Referring to the plea agreement Judge Stutzman said,”This agreement is in the best interest of both parties.”

He also told Dechant,”What you do with those years is up to you.”

In Dechants statement to the court he stated that his actions on March 15th were the “biggest misjudgment” of his life and said it wasn’t “an act of evil.”

Dechant finished his statement by saying,”Dominick can finally rest in peace because justice has been served.”

The lead prosecutor in the case Assistant Riley County Attorney, Kendra Lewison, said she was satisfied with Judge Stutzman’s ruling. Lewison said that she hopes it serves as a reminder to people,”that infants are very vulnerable and very precious and that you just never ever shake a child.”

In the sentencing Dechant will serve 321 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections with 36 months post release supervision.