Man sentenced to at least 28 years in prison in Kinston murder

KINSTON, N.C. (WITN) - A man will spend at least the next 28 years in prison after pleading guilty to a 2023 murder in Kinston last week.

Mario King pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last Tuesday afternoon in an Alford plea.

An Alford plea is where a defendant maintains he is innocent, but admits there is enough evidence to convict him if the case were to go to trial.

King was sentenced this morning to spend between 28 and 34 years in prison for the crime.

Franklin Bowden II was gunned down on May 24, 2023, on North Davis Street.

King was arrested the next month outside of Pittsburgh by Pennsylvania State Police.