LAFAYETTE, La. — After several delays due to transportation issues, the man accused of killing a Lafayette Police officer has pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison by 15th Judicial District Judge Valerie Gotch Garrett.
Ian Howard pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the slaying of Cpl. Michael Middlebrook, and to three counts of attempted first-degree murder in the case. He was sentenced to life in prison for Middlebrook's slaying and 50 years on each of the attempted murder charges.
We reported yesterday that the plea was expected today.
Howard is accused of first-degree murder in the shooting of Cpl. Michael Middlebrook in October 2017. Prosecutors had said they planned to seek the death penalty.
Howard, 33, previously pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for Middlebrook's death. He's also accused of shooting three others in the incident, but those cases won't go forward until after the death penalty case is done.
In December 2021, the judge in the case heard hours of testimony regarding Howard's mental state.
Three psychiatrists - two appointed by the court to answer the competency question, the third hired by the defense - testified that Howard suffers from either schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder and has done for years. The third person appointed by the court, a psychologist, testified that she believes Howard has the capacity for competency but would like more information before issuing a diagnostic impression.
The judge ruled he wasn't competent to go to trial and ordered he receive treatment for his mental illnesses. After months of treatment, the court decided he was competent to help his lawyers and set a trial date for March 2024.
