Eric Rivera Jr., 23, was sentenced Thursday after he was convicted in November of second-degree murder and armed burglary. Rivera had faced a maximum life sentence.
Despite Florida having the death penalty, Rivera never faced it because he was only 17-years-old at the time of the killing – but he is required to serve 85 per cent of his sentence
The 57 year sentence handed down Monday allows Rivera to avoid life in prison, but he will not be eligible for parole until he is 72-years-old.
Rivera told police in a videotaped confession that he and other young men from the Fort Myers area broke into Taylor’s Miami-area house hoping to steal cash the NFL player kept there.
Taylor surprised them because he was home instead of on a road trip with the Redskins, and was shot after confronting them with a machete.
Rivera admitted shooting the star player, but said on the witness stand during his trial that his confession was given only under police pressure and amid purported threats to his family
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