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Last updated on Sunday, April 29, 2018
(BEDFORD) - A Bedford man was sentenced to 10 years in prison on a gun charge Thursday afternoon.
According to court records, Lawrence Superior Court II Judge William Sleva sentenced 28-year-old Joseph Backenstoes, 5951 State Road 158, to 10 years at the Indiana Department of Correction on a Level 4 felony conviction of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon.
He was found guilty by a jury in March. Backenstoes admitted at the time of his arrest to previously firing a shotgun that belonged to the Craig family. He also admitted to shooting with Craig while target practicing.
Backenstoes is also facing a charge of murder in the death of 38-year-old Travis Craig. Backenstoes, is the cousin of Travis Craig's wife Debbie Craig, and lived with the family at the time of Travis Craig's murder.
Backenstoes' will face a jury of his peers on August 27 in Lawrence Superior Court II. He is accused of shooting and killing Travis Craig.
On the day of the murder, at 11:37 a.m., Lawrence County Sheriff Central Dispatch received a 911 call at 11:37 a.m. from Backenstoe reporting he "just heard shots fired" and "a man's down outside my yard."
When police arrived at the home at 5951 State Road 158 they found Craig in his driveway not breathing. Backenstoe was living with Craig at the time of the shooting. Only three people were home at the time of the shooting - Craig, Craig's wife Debbie and Backenstoes.
Officers from Lawrence County, first responders from Indian Creek Volunteer Fire Department and an IU Health Hospital ambulance crew rushed to the scene.
Sheriff Mike Branham says Craig died from multiple gunshot wounds to his chest and head. Lawrence County Coroner Rob Herr ruled the death a homicide.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Backenstoes told police he heard eight or nine "bangs" when he was in the bathroom. He then went outside to investigate and found Craig bleeding from his chest.
Craig's wife Debbie told police Backenstoes told her twice that he planned to kill Travis and she had talked him out of harming her husband. She told police Travis had asked Backenstoes to move out of the home on State Road 158. Backenstoes was supposed to move out Oct. 6.
On the morning of Oct. 6, Backenstoes and Travis Craig were talking in the kitchen when Backenstoes told Travis the garage had been broken into the night before, then Backenstoes and Travis Craig went outside.
Debbie told police she was in the bathroom when she heard shots fired. She says when she came out of the bathroom she was meet by Backenstoes who made a slashing motions across his neck and then told her Travis had been shot.
When police interviewed Travis and Debbie Craig's teenage son, who told them Backenstoes had came into his room the night of Oct. 5 and told him that he loved him and that "whatever happens to me, just take care of your mother."
Police also questioned two people who worked with Backenstoes. One person told police that a month before the murder Backenstoes told him he was having problems with someone living at his trailer and needed a gun.
The other worker told police Backenstoes asked them about getting a small gun a week before Craig's death.
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