Lady Justice atop the golden dome of the Chenango County Courthouse in Norwich. (Photo by Tyler Murphy)

NORWICH — Over a year and a half after the start of his homicide investigation, William D. Sabines Jr. faces sentencing for his 2021 arrest involving the killing of 44-year-old Jesse L. Donlin in 2019.

He pleaded guilty to three total counts in the two indictments in a proceeding in May, two of which were reduced.

Donlin was reported missing in September 2019, and after New York State Police investigators looked into numerous tips related to his disappearance, Sabines was later arrested and initially charged with murder. He was 36 years old at the time of his arrest, and the indictment accused Sabines of intentionally preventing the discovery of Donlin’s body by burning it in a fire pit on his property, dumping it in a well in McDonough and removing Donlin’s vehicle from his property.

Sabines last appeared in court on May 15, 2023 and accepted a plea deal that reduced his murder charge.

He pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide, concealment of a human corpse and attempted criminal possession of stolen property.

He was scheduled to be sentenced on Friday, July 14 in Chenango County Court, however, the sentencing was delayed Thursday morning due to a motion filed by Defense Attorney Kevin O’Brien.

The motion was filed late Wednesday afternoon, and before moving forward, the court will need to make a ruling. No new scheduling date has been set for the sentencing.