NATCHEZ — A Natchez man was sentenced Thursday to 35 years in prison for the 2013 death of a man who was robbed and killed while closing a package store.

Kenneth James Carver Jr. had originally been set for trial on Thursday for murder and armed robbery, but Carver accepted a plea bargain Wednesday to lesser charges of accessory after the fact to murder and strong-arm robbery.

On Jan. 3, 2013, Tyrone Bernard was ambushed as he was closing DD’s Package Store at approximately 10 p.m. Bernard was shot when he tried to fight the four people who rushed him outside the store. He tried to leave the scene in his vehicle but died shortly after, the vehicle crashing approximately 40 feet away.

While two others were initially charged by police, Carver was the only suspect an Adams County grand jury returned an indictment against in Nov. 2013.

On Thursday, the family of the victim asked Circuit Court Judge Forest “Al” Johnson to give Carver the maximum sentence, several loved ones breaking down into tears while giving their pleas.

Beatrice Lewis said her nephew, Bernard, was like a son to her, particularly after the death of her own son.

“He and my son were real close,” Lewis said. “Tyrone would come and see what I was doing before one of his jobs.”

Lewis said Bernard was trying to help her cope with the loss of her son.

“There was no way I could have gotten over my son, but he thought he was doing something good for me coming by filling that gap,” she said.

“Now I don’t even have that anymore,” Lewis said, bursting into tears. “He took that away. I hate this for his family. I can imagine what they are going through. But he should pay the price. We don’t have Tyrone no more. He should pay the price.”

Towanda Berry said her uncle, Bernard, was an honorable man who worked three jobs and was always there for the family and children. Berry said Bernard, an usher at his church, served in the U.S. Air Force for more than seven years.

“You took an honorable, honest man’s life for no reason,” Berry said. “He won’t have the opportunity to go to any of his children’s graduation, from high school, from college, and he won’t see his grandchildren.”

Berry said Carver did not have mercy on Bernard, so Johnson should hot have mercy on Carver.

Fred Watkins, Bernard’s brother, asked Carver to look at him as Watkins was talking.

“I had my mother and father and (Bernard) pass within a five year period, and I am taking his death harder than my mother and father,” Watkins said. “I can’t get over this. He had a really kind heart. He was a hard worker.

“I miss my brother. I ask the court to not show any mercy toward (Carver).”

Johnson said this was a sad case, where the victim was working, not doing something he should not have been doing.

“We have way too much violence in this community,” Johnson said. “This man was just doing a job. He was closing up. He was robbed and his life was taken. This is truly an innocent victim.”

Johnson gave Carver the maximum sentence, 20 years for the accessory plea and 15 years for the robbery plea. The sentences are to run consecutive, which means after he finishes the 20-year sentence, he will have to serve the 15-year sentence.

Carver was initially set to go to trial in August 2014, but the trial was delayed after Carver’s attorney said his client had an IQ of approximately 70 and was confused about the legal proceedings against him.

Carver was transferred to Whitfield after being found incompetent to stand trial in February 2016.

District Attorney Ronnie Harper said Carver was sent to Whitfield so he could become competent for trial.

Harper said Carver was treated at Whitfield and doctors made a determination he was competent to stand for trial.