Montgomery man sentenced to 99 years for murder of ex-girlfriend's boyfriend in 2018

A man from Montgomery was sentenced to 99 years in prison following his conviction for shooting and killing his ex-girlfriend's boyfriend in 2018. 

According to an announcement on social media by Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey, Charlie Gardner pleaded guilty to the murder of Benjamin Young in 2018. 

The murder took place on Feb. 26, 2018. Gardner reportedly approached a car that Young was inside of when he was preparing to take Gardner's ex-girlfriend's children to school. 

Bailey said that Gardner, in a "unprovoked fit of rage," shot multiple times into the car, killing Young. A 4-year-old passenger witnessed the shooting but was unharmed. 

Gardner was sentenced by Judge Brooke Reid, which Bailey said is the maximum for this crime. 

"This was an extremely heinous and senseless act of violence. Benjamin Young was gunned down and killed because Charlie Gardner was jealous and acted in a fit of rage," Bailey stated on social media. "Equally tragic is that he was murdered in front of an innocent child who will have to live with the memory of this vicious crime for the rest of their life."

"Judge Reid saw through every attempt Mr. Gardner made to justify his actions and pronounced an appropriate sentence of 99 years in prison. Judge Reid is to be commended for protecting our community by making sure this violent offender will never walk the streets again. I hope knowing Charlie Gardner will spend the rest of his adult life behind bars will bring comfort and peace to Mr. Young’s family.”