DES MOINES, Iowa — A man was sentenced to 20 years in prison Tuesday after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter, according to court documents.
Joshua John Taylor was originally charged with first-degree murder in May after he shot and killed 23-year-old Dakota Toepfer of Des Moines. Toepfer's death marked Des Moines' ninth homicide of 2023.
Taylor, who was 20 years old at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty to lesser charges in September. Those charges are:
- Voluntary Manslaughter
- Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver
- Assault Causing Serious Injury
Taylor is not eligible for probation.
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