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Janitor Convicted Of Killing Placerville Principal Sentenced To 50 Years In Prison

PLACERVILLE (CBS13) – John Luebbers, the Placerville school janitor who gunned down the school's principal in 2011, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison.

An El Dorado County judge sentenced Luebbers Friday afternoon for the slaying of popular Schnell School Principal Sam LaCara.

Luebbers, the former head custodian at the school, shot and killed LaCara in February of last year, a few days after the two golfed together. Witnesses say Luebbers was upset he didn't get enough input into a hiring decision on a night janitor.

He entered LaCara's office and shot him three times with a .357.

A jury convicted Luebbers in April after a short trial in which his defense attorney admitted his client's guilt but tried for a lesser conviction than first-degree murder.

On Friday, LaCara's widow pleaded with the judge to make sure Luebbers never sees the outside of a prison wall again.

"I cannot think of anything more repulsive or despicable than betrayal," Lisa LaCara said during her impact statement to the judge.

But even being called despicable and repulsive didn't seem to get Luebbers' attention. He never looked in the direction of LaCara's wife.

As he sat stone-faced, she tearfully told the court how she and her daughters struggle to cope with LaCara's murder every single day.

"To think and feel every moment what Sam felt in those last few minutes of his life, when a man he showed kindness and compassion for took his life," she said.

LaCara's secretary was also in court for the sentencing.

"He's never shown any remorse," she said of Luebbers. "He's never shown anything but contempt for all of us."

Friday was his last chance to say he was sorry - or say anything. Luebbers submitted a letter to the judge but did not address the court.

The 45-year-old was led away with the same blank expression on his face. He'll be 95 years old when he's first eligible for parole.

"People were calculating his age and things like that," Schnell teacher Cathy Rumble said. "I think people feel that justice has been done. It's still not going to bring our Sam back."

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