The mother and attorney of a Cedar Rapids man sentenced today to a minimum of 21 years in prison for shooting a police officer say the sentence is too strict. Mitchel Langel was found guilty of attempted murder andwillfull injury for shooting the officer who was trying to serve Langel mental commitment papers last November. Langel’s mother Lennora Steinbronn says the sentence doesn’t take into account her son’s condition. She says her son has become the victim in this case.Langel’s attorney, Alfredo Parrish, also doesn’t like the law that requires someone with mental illness to serve 85-percent of their sentence. He says the law needs to be changed.Parrish says he will appeal the sentencing. Langel was sentenced to 25 years on the attempted murder charge and 10 years on the willful injury charge. The sentences are to run concurrently.
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