Man who killed Gary strip club owner gets 32 years

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Written by: 195 on Dec 8, 2011

Lake Superior Court Judge Clarence Murray sentenced a 20-year-old Merrillville man to 32 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of a Gary strip club owner.

Brandan R. McDonald admitted in court last month that he went to the Body Heat Gentlemen’s club in Gary’s Glen Park section on Dec. 4, 2009, and angrily approached owner Terrence Crossley.

At the time, McDonald was involved in a relationship with co-defendant Sha’Mere Patterson, who was 17 and working at the club.

McDonald believed Patterson was committing acts of prostitution in the back of the club and argued with Crossley before shooting him twice.

Crossley, 57, died early the next morning of a gunshot wound to the chest.

In court Wednesday, McDonald apologized to Crossley’s family.

Defense attorney R. Brian Woodward argued for the minimum 20-year sentence, noting his client was remorseful and had no prior convictions as an adult.

“Young men can’t comprehend the consequences of their actions,” Woodward said, noting McDonald had turned 18 just four months before the homicide.

Deputy prosecutor Angela Mattozzi asked Murray to consider McDonald’s juvenile record as an aggravating factor.

“He went into the business with a gun and instead of calling police about something he felt was illegal, he took matters into his own hands,” she said.

Murray imposed a 35-year sentence, but ordered that the last three years be suspended and served on probation.

McDonald had been charged with murder in perpetration of a robbery, which was dismissed under terms of his plea agreement.

Patterson pleaded guilty in December 2010 to assisting a criminal, a class C felony punishable by a sentence of two to eight years. Her sentencing hearing is Feb. 18.

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