Man sentenced to 48 years for cell phone killing

HARTFORD, Conn. --A 21-year-old Hartford man was sentenced to 48 years in prison Wednesday for killing a convicted drug dealer during an argument over a cell phone.

Jared Charles was convicted in June of murder, carrying a pistol without a permit, criminal possession of a pistol and possession of crack cocaine.

Police allege that Charles shot Dennis Faniel in September 2004 after Faniel demanded that Charles return a phone, which contained the names and numbers of Faniel's drug customers.

Charles had taken possession of the phone when Faniel was in prison, police said.

Faniel was shot with a 9mm handgun that was never recovered.

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Information from: The Hartford Courant, http://www.courant.com