Heffern appeals sentence

A convicted murderer appeared in Jay Circuit Court Tuesday afternoon to challenge his sentence.
Michael Heffern was sentenced in 2010 to 60 years in prison for the 2008 murder of Shawn Buckner, as well as 15 years for robbery while armed with a deadly weapon.
Heffern contends his previous attorneys, Jason Welch and Mark Small, did not represent him as well as they could have. Welch and Small each briefly testified Tuesday.
Heffern’s total sentence was longer than those four others involved, who were sentenced for murder only. During a 2011 appeal, the court ruled Heffern’s robbery and murder convictions were not double jeopardy.
Tina Whiting and Addison Pijnappels were each sentenced to 55 years after being found guilty at trial. Tom Smith and Roderick Berry, who both pleaded guilty, were sentenced to 60 and 53 years respectively.
Judge Brian Hutchison will issue a decision within 30 days of receiving all relevant papers in the case.