A convicted murderer will spend the rest of his life in prison, Lycoming County Judge Eric Linhardt announced Friday morning.

The sentencing comes after a jury of 10 women and six men found Benjamin Villanueva III, 35, guilty of criminal homicide, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and carrying a firearm without a license, for the December 2023 shooting death of 39-year-old Jermaine Derick Mullen, following a trial in January 2026.

The homicide charge, which was merged with the aggravated assault charge for sentencing purposes, carried a mandatory life without the possibility of parole sentence.

Villanueva was also sentenced to one to two years on the tampering charge, and 24 months to seven years for the firearm count.

A charge of illegal possession of a firearm severed before trial will move forward against Villanueva with jury selection slated to be held in July.

Villanueva refused to participate in a pre-sentence report, Linhardt said.

The report noted that Villanueva has had two prior juvenile and three prior adult convictions, labeling him as a repeat violent offender.

Two victim impact statements were read aloud by Linhardt.

In the first statement, the writer describes feelings of heartbreak, anger and questions of why their loved one was taken from them.

“This is like a nightmare I can’t wake up from,” the statement said, calling the crime unforgivable.

The second statement, described feeling numb in the aftermath of the killing, as well as feeling on edge and waking up to every little sound.

In light of the mandatory nature of the sentence, neither Villanueva or defense attorney Corey Chwiecko made any argument.

Along with incarceration, Villanueva was ordered to pay restitution of $9465, and $6,500 to the Pennsylvania Victims Compensation Program (VCAP).

Just last month, county authorities charged Davon Tamel Grissom, 38, with second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, kidnaping, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, criminal use of a communications facility and illegal possession of a firearm, as an alleged accomplice in the murder of Mullen.