'He was friends with anybody': Man charged with slaying Kevin Anderson sentenced

The father of Kevin Anderson, who was slain in February 2019, said his son didn't deserve what happened to him.

"To treat a human being like that, I mean dragging him into a ditch, I wouldn't do that to an animal," Kevin Anderson Sr. said while addressing the court Monday.

Josiah Lopiccolo, 24, of Casco Township, was sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison by St. Clair County Circuit Court Judge Daniel Damman Monday.

St. Clair County Assistant Prosecutor Brianna Monzo said every day the defendant gets to live is another day Anderson does not.

Monzo described Anderson as a person who almost wanted to buy friendship.

"He was friends with anybody," Monzo said. "He would give anybody anything that he had in order for him to spend more time with them."

Damman said two families had been affected by the crime: The Anderson family, and Lopiccolo's family. 

"It’s destroyed two families: Your mother, and your grandmother, and your family and the Anderson family," Damman said. 

Lopiccolo was sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison for second-degree murder.

"Is that enough to make up for taking someone's life? That question will be answered in a multitude of ways," Damman said. "Your family will see you again. The Anderson family will never see Kevin again, and those are because of choices you made."

Lopiccolo pleaded guilty in June, a day before his jury trial was scheduled to begin. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and possession of a firearm during a felony for shooting and killing Kevin Anderson in February 2019.

Lopiccolo was originally charged with open murder, tampering with evidence and the felony firearm charge in Anderson's slaying.

Lopiccolo is also facing charges in a different case. In February, Lopiccolo allegedly damaged a TV and a window in the jail. He is scheduled for a jury trial beginning Sept. 14.

Contact Brian Wells at (810) 357-8668 or bwells@gannett.com.