Titonka man sentenced to 50 years for role in death of Ventura woman

GARNER — It’s 50 years in prison for a Titonka man who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of a Ventura woman last year.

58-year-old Monte Eckels was charged with first-degree murder after being accused of fatally stabbing Leallen Bergman while inside a residence at 275 4th Street Southeast in Britt on the night of March 4th 2023.

Eckels was originally ruled to be incompetent to stand trial in a ruling this past May, but a district court judge last month found that his competency had been restored through medical treatment and scheduled his murder trial to start on December 9th.

Eckels as part of a plea agreement earlier this month filed a written plea of guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree murder, a Class B forcible felony.

District Judge Gregg Rosenbladt sentenced Eckels on Wednesday to 50 years in prison with a mandatory minimum of 35 years having to be served prior to him being eligible for parole.