Murder confession
On October 12, 2004, writer Sam Kellerman (brother of boxing analyst Max Kellerman) was murdered. (His body was found on October 17). Butler was considered a suspect; he had been friends with Kellerman had been friends for ten years.)
On October 20, Butler, accompanied by a lawyer, sought treatment for his alleged bipolar disorder.
Butler was arrested for the Kellerman slaying on October 27, and two days later, he plead not guilty to murder and arson. He was held on $1.25 million bail. Prosecutors claimed that Butler, the only suspect in the case, repeatedly struck Kellerman in the head with a hammer, then torched Kellerman's Hollywood, California apartment in an attempted coverup. (Coincidentally, Butler fought under the nickname "The Harlem Hammer.")
On July 8, 2005, a Los Angeles judge ruled that there was sufficient evidence for Butler to stand trial on the charges of murder and arson.
On March 27, 2006, Butler pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and arson in the 2004 death of Kellerman. On April 5, Butler was sentenced to 29 years, four months in prison by Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor, according to Deputy Public Defender Jack Keenan.
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