Sentencing for David Michael Easter was continued Friday in Freeborn County District Court.

Easter, 27, who has been in jail since he was found guilty of second-degree murder in April in the shooting death of Spencer Daniel Brown, 23, last summer, will be incarcerated until he is sentenced. According to Freeborn County court services, Easter could be sentenced in August. He was scheduled to be sentenced June 30.

“Given the serious nature of the charge, given the presumptive sentence, and given the difficulty of the defense to get the information needed for a departure motion, the request for a continuance is granted,” said District Court Judge Steven Schwab in the document filed Friday.

Freeborn County Attorney David Walker argued against the motion, saying family members and loved ones of Brown have in some cases taken time off work for the sentencing hearing.

“Multiple individuals plan to attend the sentencing hearing and present victim statements,” the document states. “Individuals will in some cases be traveling from Nebraska to attend the sentencing hearing. (Easter) has had the benefit of pre-trial motions granting him the freedom to leave the state, and enjoyed a dramatic lowering of the bail. The family and loved ones of the murder victim have a perception that the now-proven murderer may not (be) held accountable for his crime.”

Easter was found guilty of intentionally murdering Brown on Aug. 23, 2016, at Myre-Big Island State Park. Easter had claimed self-defense in the man’s death. He was convicted after a jury trial.

Easter faces a presumptive sentence of more than 25 years in prison.