In a chilling case that has gripped the city of Muskegon, a Michigan man has been sentenced to a minimum of 30 years in prison for the starvation death of his disabled brother, a move that comes just a month after their mother received a life sentence for her role in the tragic incident.

21-year-old Paul Ferguson, who pleaded guilty to first-degree child abuse, was branded by Muskegon County Circuit Judge Matthew Kacel as being close to a "psychopath," according to details from the CBS News Detroit report. His sentencing, which could extend to 100 years, came after the grueling details of the punishment he and his mother meted out to 15-year-old Timothy Ferguson were laid bare; the boy suffered from autism and was speech- and motor-impaired when he was found dead, weighing just 69 pounds.

The courtroom's atmosphere during Paul Ferguson's sentencing contrasted sharply with that of his mother’s trial, featuring plenty of open seats and less media presence, with no one to deliver a victim impact statement on behalf of Timothy, MLive reported. In a surprising turn of events, Nolan Ferguson, another brother to Paul and Timothy, despite anguished by what happened asked the judge to consider rehabilitation instead of prison for Paul, claiming that he had been manipulated by his mother and was a victim of lifelong neglect from their parents who failed to address his issues.

Seeking a leniency not granted, Paul Ferguson showed some remorse in court, stating, "I ask the judge for nothing more than mercy and fairness – to offer me compassion I might learn from him," Nolan's desperate plea for a chance at reform for his brother juxtaposed against the judge's unyielding view of justice, outlined in the letter obtained by MLive, that marked a stark contrast to the grim reality of the court's decision.