NORWICH – A Norwich man who helped cover-up the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl by his romantic partner, was sentenced to prison on Monday in Chenango County Court after admitting he lied to police.

James Brower, 37, of Norwich, was sentenced on a count of first-degree hindering prosecution, after he admitted that he lied to law enforcement during a homicide investigation of a young girl who was raped and murdered by his romantic partner, Tobias Rundstrom-Wooding. Rundstrom-Wooding has pleaded guilty to the crime.

Chenango County District Attorney Michael Ferrarese said Brower lied to police and tried to pin the crime on another minor in the household. As part of the agreement, Brower was sentenced to one-and-a-half to four-and-a-half years in prison.

"This defendant chose to defend his partner, who he was in a 14 year relationship with, over a 11-year-old girl," said Ferrarese. "He then tried to put the blame on his own son."

He said that Brower did everything to, "Protect the monster he was in love with." He added that Brower attempted to thwart law enforcement's efforts to solve the case by lying to them about what happened on the day of the murder.

He added the main culprit, Tobias Rundstrom-Wooding, who has already pleaded guilty, was the one who raped and killed Jacelyn O’Connor on July 30, 2017 in the Town of Norwich. Rundstrom-Wooding was sentenced to 20 years to life in state prison in June of last year, said Ferrarese.