News Photo by Jason Ogden Kyle Boldrey of Hillman was given two concurrent sentences of 25-50 years for two convictions of second degree murder, which stemmed from an August 2016 incidentn in Montmorency County’s 26th Circuit Court Monday.

ATLANTA — Hillman resident Kyle Boldrey, 26, was given two 25- to 50-year prison sentences Monday on two second degree murder charges following a sentencing hearing in Montmorency County’s 26th Circuit Court.

In September Boldrey pleaded no contest to the charges following an incident that left two dead and two severely injured in August 2016.

The charges were pleaded down from two counts of open murder, two counts assault with intent to murder, one count of home invasion and two counts of resisting and obstructing a police officer. The two second degree charges were added following the previous charges’ dismissal.

During Monday’s hearing Judge Michael Mack opted to exceed recommended sentencing guidelines for more than 18 years. This was despite pleas from Boldrey’s defense attorney. Daniel White said Boldrey should be given a lighter sentence due to the circumstances of the case.

White said the night of the murders Boldrey and his friend, Trevor Hubbard, both took a drug called “25I” that was known for recreational uses. He said this was less than two weeks before Boldrey was to enlist in the U.S. Air Force and Hubbard was to attend college.

White said after Boldrey took the drugs he experienced violent rage and stabbed Hubbard to death and then broke into the home of Debbie Wells, her husband Keith Atkinson, and Jeffrey Bauer. All were severely beaten.

Atkinson died on his way to the hospital and Wells remained in intensive care after the Aug. 27, 2016, incident. Police video showed Boldrey in an uncontrolled state as law enforcement worked to get him into a patrol vehicle following the incident. According to White he was tased four times and came down from the high as he was being transported by police to the hospital. He described Boldrey as a polite man who has not caused trouble during his more than one year at the Alpena County Jail.

“Kyle came down from a high only to realize he ruined his young life,” White said.

White also said Boldrey’s recreational drug use stemmed from an incident when he was 13 years old and was given morphine by a doctor, an incident that led to abuse and experimentation and said he had quit drugs before enlisting in the Air Force but “wanted to have fun with his friend before the military” and said no one could tell Boldrey’s reaction to 25I.

He compared Boldrey’s case to a hypothetical case of a super drunk driver who killed two and injured another two in a driving incident and said that according to calculations that driver would only receive 5.5 years in prison. White said although he believed Boldrey should get more prison time than that, he should not get a minimum of 25 years as Boldrey was “rehabilitated” during his more than a year in county jail.

“I ask you to depart downward from the guidelines because of the unique circumstances,” White said.

Boldrey was apologetic during the hearing and appeared remorseful.

“I know that nothing I can say would right the wrongs that I have done to you,” he told a packed court. “I just wanted to hang out with a friend and have a good time. I know I am responsible and I hope you can forgive me one day.”

He said he took more than a life, but he also took the sense of security someone had for their home.

Tracy Hubbard, Trevor Hubbard’s mother, said Boldrey was a lifelong friend of the family and said although she mourns her son, it was her son who supplied the drugs and is at fault in the incident and asked for a lighter sentence for Boldrey.

“I can’t hate him,” she said. “No sentence could punish him as much as he already has been punished,” she said.

Wells, during a victim’s impact statement, said she has experienced financial hardship, is afraid of the dark and generally scared since the incident. She described her horror as Boldrey repeatedly beat her and her husband Keith — a Vietnam veteran who had just retired — as he attempted to fend off Boldrey’s attacks.

After victims’ statements Mack discussed his decision to impose the sentence.

“In over 30 years of doing this, this is the most tragic case I’ve ever witnessed,” he said. “This cause should be studied in every classroom in Michigan.”

In addition to imposing the sentence, Mack also imposed restitution for Boldrey in the amount of $10,870 to be paid to Wells, as well as other restitution amounts for others involved in the case. Mack said Boldrey had 45 days to appeal the sentence.

Jason Ogden can be reached via email at jogden@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5693. Follow Jason on Twitter @jo_alpenanews.