Shelby Lentz pleads guilty to 2014 murder

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A Wilmington man has admitted to killing another man early last year.

Shelby Lentz today pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, malicious conduct and several drug possession crimes. He will serve 221 to 278 months in prison as part of his plea deal.

Lentz stabbed Martin Yakimovich, 32, to death on Jan. 3, 2014. The then 19-year-old initially said he had acted in self defense.

Witnesses told police the stabbing happened after Yakimovich and Shelby Lentz, 19, got into an argument. Lentz ran from the house, but later turned himself into police.

For Yakimovich’s mother, Renee Dunn, justice was not served for her son.

“For murdering someone for no reason, that’s a cake-walk,” Dunn said. “I feel like he should spend the rest of his life in jail.”

Dunn added that doctors told her she would never have kids, so Yakimovich was her miracle.

“You do not get over losing someone like him,” Dunn said.

For Lentz’s grandmother, Barbara Honeycutt, she says she’s dealing with loss and grief as well.

“He’s not a bad kid,” Honeycutt said. “He’s got a very good heart. He just got in with the wrong people.”

Honeycutt said today’s plea means the loss of her grandson — a different kind of loss.

“They think they lost their son. You think I didn’t lose Shelby in this? I’ve lost him too,” Honeycutt said.