Pair sentenced to 20-40 years in Wilkinsburg murder

Two men will serve 20 to 40 years in prison for the 2015 murder of Anthony Garland in his Wilkinsburg apartment.

Troy Miller, 23, of Homewood and James Meek, 27, of Wilkinsburg both pleaded guilty Wednesday to third-degree murder, robbery and conspiracy for the Jan. 27, 2015, murder of Garland, 31, inside his bedroom in the Crescent Apartments on Rebecca Street in Wilkinsburg. Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Beth Lazzara accepted their pleas and sentenced them both to 20 to 40 years in prison for the murder, along with concurrent sentences of five to 10 years each for the robbery and conspiracy charges. She also ordered them to have no contact with Garland's family.

“You've committed the ultimate crime — you've taken a life,” Lazzara told them after sentencing. “Think about it, change your lives, and give some honor to Mr. Garland.”

According to the criminal complaint against them, Miller and Meek went to Garland's apartment under a ruse that they were going to buy marijuana. The pair actually intended to rob Garland to resolve a grudge Meek had against him.

Miller and Meek implicated each other as the one who fatally shot Garland, and Miller said both took the marijuana, money and an Xbox game console, the complaint said.

The men had been scheduled for separate jury trials in February and March but chose to take pleas instead.

Matthew Santoni is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at msantoni@tribweb.com or 412-391-0927.