GOSHEN — William Terry is a father. So was John Staub. Terry will still be able to see his children.

Terry, 25, Goshen, was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison on a Class A felony count of conspiracy to commit murder. He’d been charged in connection with Staub’s March shooting death in northwest Goshen.

The man who allegedly pulled the trigger, 21-year-old Daniel Heflin, is set to go to trial Aug. 20.

“If I could go back in time and change it, I would,” Terry said through tears in Elkhart Circuit Court. “I’m sorry for everything I’ve done.”

Among those in the courtroom to hear Terry’s apology was Staub’s brother James. John Staub was with James the night he was gunned down. John died in his arms.

On the witness stand, a distraught James Staub recalled his brother’s last words to him.

“‘I think I got shot,’” he said.

Before handing down the sentence, Judge Terry Shewmaker posed a question. These are not the days of the Wild West, Shewmaker said, and this is a civilized society in the modern era. As such ...

“What causes a 25-year-old person such as yourself to get involved in this type of situation?” Shewmaker asked Terry.

“I just wasn’t thinking at the time,” Terry replied.

“That’s kind of a poor excuse, isn’t it?” the judge said.

Sequence of events

If Terry could travel back in time, his destination would likely be March 22, 2012.

Late that evening, Goshen police were dispatched to a report of gunfire in the area of Indiana and Chicago avenues. There was also a report of a large fight that night in the 600 block of River Avenue.

Shots were fired at a red Dodge truck, court documents indicate, and the vehicle was driven from the scene. Police later stopped the truck near Indiana and Lincoln avenues. John and James Staub were passengers. John had a gunshot wound to the chest and was later pronounced dead.

“Another occupant of the red Dodge truck had been David Paul Goble, who was also suffering from what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the leg,” reads an affidavit signed by Goshen Police Department Detective Stephen Priem.

Heflin was questioned by police, and according to court documents admitted to shooting the vehicle.

“... Heflin reported that he was the person who shot multiple bullets from his handgun at the red truck in retaliation for one of his friends, William Terry, being threatened by David Paul Goble,” the affidavit reads.

According to the document, Terry told police “that shortly before the shooting, he had personally broken up a fight between a female and ‘David Paul,’ at which time ‘David Paul’ threatened to shoot Terry and was calling someone on his cell phone appearing to recruit help.”

Terry told police that he fled the scene and sought out his friend Heflin.

“Terry explained that he reported to Heflin that he had just been threatened by ‘David Paul’ and was aware that Heflin had a handgun in his possession when he explained to Heflin where to find ‘David Paul,’” the affidavit reads.

John Staub’s father, John Stilley, said his son received a call from a friend the night of the shooting. The friend indicated he was being attacked and needed help at a home in the 600 block of River Avenue. Staub and his brother went to help.

Now it’s nearly four months later, and John Staub is no longer here to be a part of his children’s lives.

“They’re never going to be able to hold their dad ever again,” Stilley said on the witness stand Thursday. And John Staub won’t be able to wish his children Merry Christmas.

“No birthdays,” Stilley said. “No nothing.”

In other Circuit Court proceedings Thursday:

• Judge Shewmaker denied a bond reduction for Darius Thomas, 18, Goshen. Thomas and Andres Torres, 17, Goshen, are charged with Class B felony armed robbery. They were arrested in connection with the May 20 hold-up of the convenience store at 224 N. Main St., Goshen.

Thomas described Thursday’s court hearing as “pointless,” indicating his family can’t pay any bond amount. His bond remains set at $100,000.

Torres’ request for a lower bond was denied by Shewmaker last month.

• Robert B. Mollette, 17, Goshen, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on two Class B felony counts of robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and one count of conspiracy to commit that offense. He’ll also serve 10 years on probation.

Mollette was one of several people charged after two young men were beaten and robbed Jan. 7 at 210 W. Douglas St. in Goshen.

• Travis Ernest, 25, Goshen, was sentenced to six years in prison plus six years on probation on a Class B felony charge of manufacturing methamphetamine. He was given credit for 159 days already served behind bars.