Published: July 11, 2008 12:27 pm            

Mablin sentenced to 50 years

CLINTON — In the same courtroom in which he was convicted just two months ago of second-degree murder in the Dec. 13 death of Sandra Cham-bers-Singh, Benaiah Mablin was sentenced to serve 50 years in prison for the crime.

While the sentencing hearing was to begin at 9 a.m. on Thursday, the hearing was delayed 30 minutes so the pre-sentence investigation report could be reviewed.

Led by a sheriff’s deputy and wearing an orange Clinton County Jail jumpsuit, leg shackles and handcuffs, Mablin walked to the table where he would hear his fate. Seated just a few feet behind him was Otha Chambers, mother of Sandra Chambers-Singh.

At 9:35 a.m., Judge Mark Cleve entered the room and Clinton County Attorney Mike Wolf and Mablin’s court-appointed attorney Bruce Ingham issued suggested corrections to the report.

Before offering his sentencing recommendation to the court, Wolf read a victim impact statement from Chambers and then made his own remarks. Reading from Chambers’ letter, Wolf quoted her as saying she feels the court should have found Mablin guilty of first-degree murder for the brutal death of her daughter, which has left her 4-year-old grandson motherless.

“He took the life of my daughter, so he should get life,” Chambers wrote.

In his comments, Wolf said Iowa Code calls for a mandatory 50-year sentence in second-degree murder cases, with a minimum of 70 percent of the sentence to be served before the defendant can be released. Mablin, now 26, will be 61 when he becomes eligible for parole.

Wolf told the court that Chambers-Singh was a unique individual, a human being searching for love, companionship, purpose and happiness, and said her opportunities to learn and grow and develop were taken away from her.

“There is no doubt the defendant stabbed Sandra. That he is responsible for her death. The state takes great exception to the defendant’s version of events and suggests to this court that those remarks show no remorse,” Wolf said. “The defendant’s imprisonment will hopefully make him reflect on what he did, that he is responsible. That what he did was not justified, not justified in stabbing her over and over and over again. The people of the state of Iowa submit today’s sentence is appropriate and provides justice for Sandra Chambers-Singh.”

Cleve offered Mablin an opportunity to speak to the court before the sentence was handed down. Mablin said the day of the incident was “a day that changed lives for everyone” and he was truly saddened by what happened and regrets what occurred.

“I wish I could trade places with her, but unfortunately, I can’t,” said Mablin.

He commented he has three small children of his own and moved to Clinton so his children would not have to grow up in a rough and dangerous neighborhood like he did. He said his children miss him like Chambers-Singh’s son must miss her.

Regarding the events of Dec. 13, Mablin said he didn’t really know Chambers-Singh, but the two got high and she wanted more and attacked him. He told the court he felt cornered and had nowhere to go, therefore “did what anyone else would have done” and defended himself.

“This has destroyed lives — hers and mine, but I am not a murderer. I pray to the Lord every day and night for the wrongs I have done,” Mablin said. “To my family, her family, the public, friends, I am sorry. Please find it in your hearts to forgive me.”

Cleve issued the mandatory sentence of 50 years imprisonment and said Mablin would receive credit for time served in the Clinton County Jail. He said Mablin would be transferred to the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Oakdale and be responsible for restitution of court costs and fees up to $1,000. Mablin also received an order to pay $150,000 to Chambers-Singh’s estate under Iowa Code 910.3B, a mandatory restitution assessment in a homicide. Cleve noted Mablin’s charge of second-degree murder is a non-bailable offense on appeal.

In a statement to the court as the trial judge, Cleve said he feels the case involved the “brutal and completely unjustified murder” of Sandra Chambers-Singh and commented the sentence is “absolutely justified by the facts of the case.” He then informed Mablin of his right to appeal within 30 days. Before Cleve recessed the hearing, Ingham notified the court he would be filing an appeal on Mablin’s behalf.

Wolf said a great deal of credit for the conviction goes to the Clinton Police Department, the CPD Criminal Investigation Division and the Iowa Attorney General’s Office for resolving the case in a quick manner.

        

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