COVINGTON — An Erlanger teen has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for severely beating a Mexican immigrant with a baseball bat Sept. 10 in a Covington apartment.

        Ernie Sizemore, 16, was sentenced as an adult Monday in Kenton County Circuit Court.

        The victim, Blas Carrasco Diaz, 31, who emigrated from the Mexican state of Chihuahua, died from his injuries Sept. 24 at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South in Edgewood. Mr. Diaz was working as a drywall installer and sending the money he earned to his family in Mexico.

        Mr. Sizemore pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree manslaughter and will be held in a juvenile justice center until he is 18. He then could be ordered to serve the rest of his sentence in an adult prison or be granted probation.

        Three teenage girls who were also involved in the beating death have been previously charged with one count of facilitation to manslaughter in the first degree.

        According to Covington Police Lt. Col. Jim Liles, Mr. Diaz was first maced in the face. He was then hit in the ribs and head by Mr. Sizemore. At least two of the girls kicked Mr. Diaz.

        Lt. Col. Liles said the four juveniles, who knew Mr. Diaz, then went to his apartment to rob him of gold and money.

        “They were all present at the time, and they all contributed,” said Jeff Middendorf, a prosecutor in Kenton County Attorney Gary Edmondson's office.

        One of the girls, Sarah Sprecker of Covington, turned 18 before she pleaded guilty and was sentenced June 24 to 30 months in an adult prison on one count of facilitation to manslaughter in the first degree.

        Ms. Sprecker had dated Mr. Diaz, Mr. Middendorf said.

        The two other girls, a 17-year-old from Covington and a 16-year-old from Elsmere, had their cases handled in juvenile court.

        Mr. Edmondson had asked that all four juveniles be tried as adults.

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