MENOMINEE — A Bark River man has been sentenced to 22 and a half to 40 years in prison for the fatal beating of his father.

Gary Phillips-Donovan, 37, was sentenced for second degree murder by Circuit Court Judge Christopher Ninomiya. Phillips-Donovan will receive credit for 749 days served in the Menominee County Jail since his arrest.

The case dates back to 2019. Phillips-Donovan was arrested and charged with open murder last November after his adoptive father, Michael Alan Donovan, was found dead with extensive blunt force trauma to the face and neck on Nov. 19, 2019. Donovan’s body was found in his detached garage, located on Old U.S. 2 and 41 near Eutis Road in Harris Township. Phillips-Donovan, who had allegedly been stealing from the residence of his adoptive parents shortly before the murder, was subsequently arrested in connection with Donovan’s death.

Phillips-Donovan was bound over to Menominee County Circuit Court in January 2020 on one count of homicide – open murder, a felony punishable up to life in prison; and two counts of home invasion – first degree, a 20-year felony and a maximum fine of $5,000. A habitual offender notice – fourth offense notice was filed for the three counts. The habitual offender notice would make the maximum sentence life in prison if the primary offense has a penalty of five years or more.

A jury trial was rescheduled several times over the following months — partially due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Phillips-Donovan eventually accepted a plea bargain for second degree murder.