The Long Pine man who pled no contest to reduced charges of Manslaughter (class IIA Felony) and Unlawful/intentional discharge of a firearm (class ID felony) has been sentenced to prison.

According to Brown County District Court documents, 28-year-old Nathan Yankowski appeared for sentencing in Brown County District Court on Tuesday, February 9 after he entered a plea deal back in December 2020.

Judge Mark Kozisek sentenced Yankowski 18-30 years in prison for unlawful/intentional discharge of a firearm and 15-20 years for manslaughter. It was further ordered that as long as he does not lose any ‘good time’ Yankowski must serve 10 ½ years minimum before attaining parole eligibility and must serve 16 ½ years before earning mandatory release.

Following the sentencing, Yankowski was taken into custody by the Brown County Sherriff’s Office where he will be taken to a Nebraska Penal and Correctional Complex near Lincoln.

According to the probable cause affidavit when charges were filed in 2019, conflicting stories were told to officers before Yankowski admitted to accidentally shooting 18-year-old Logan Maring, of Merna, after messing around with a gun.