A Miami man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for beating his boyfriend to death.
As part of a deal with Miami-Dade prosecutors, 37-year-old Andrew Cummings pleaded guilty Thursday to second-degree murder. With credit for time served, he faces about four more years of prison.
Prosecutors say Cummings fatally beat Arsenio Lopez at a Miami condo in January 2006. The Miami Herald reports that the case was featured on A&E's The First 48, which follows homicide detectives as they investigate murders.
Cummings admitted on the show to injuring Lopez with a towel rod only after being attacked. But defense attorneys used the show to argue that Cummings was illegally detained by police after a hospital stay before waiving his right to remain silent. A judge tossed his statement to police, and an appeals court upheld the decision.
Miami police cut ties with The First 48 in 2013.
