Belleville man gets 11 years for role in death

BELLEVILLE — A judge has sentenced a Belleville man to 11 years in prison for his role in the death of an 18-year-old Swansea man during a dispute over a stolen bicycle.

During Monday’s sentencing, Judge John Baricevic called the altercation “stupid” on the part of both sides.

The Belleville News-Democrat reports that Michael Alexander was 17 in May 2010 when he and his family members went looking for a $700 bike they believed was taken by a group associated with Jarrell Fountain.

During the dispute, Fountain was stabbed in the chest. He walked about a block before collapsing. His body was found hours later.

Alexander pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. His brother, Floyd Alexander, was sentenced earlier to seven years in prison for his role in the crime.