A 43-year-old Wisconsin man who pleaded guilty to shooting and killing an Albert Lea High School graduate last October was sentenced to life in prison Thursday in Winnebago County Circuit Court in Oshkosh, Wis.

Mark D. West, of Winchester, Wis., who was sentenced by Winnebago County Circuit Court Judge Thomas J. Gritton, will have no eligibility of parole. Wisconsin does not have capital punishment.

West pleaded guilty in May to first-degree intentional homicide for shooting Ronald D. Lau, formerly of Albert Lea, outside a duplex at 9265 County Highway M in Winchester, Wis., five times with a 12-gauge shotgun.

West owned the residence and was Lau’s landlord.

Court records state West waited the morning of Oct. 29, 2010, with a shotgun inside Lau’s side of the duplex until Lau came home from work. West was planning to tell Lau to move out when an argument started.

Although Lau received five shots, it was the last shot — only three inches away from the back of Lau’s head — that killed him.

After the murder, West attempted to cover it up. Using a golf cart, West dragged Lau’s body 50 to 75 yards west of the home through grass toward a field and tried to burn the body.

After West was unable to get Lau’s body into a 55-gallon burn barrel, he reportedly placed a large rug over the body, where it remained until police found it.

In addition to the life sentence, West was ordered to submit a DNA sample. Restitution will be resolved within 30 days.

Assistant District Attorney Scott Ceman, who prosecuted the case, said he was pleased with the sentence.

“I hope this provides some level of closure for Mr. Lau’s family,” Ceman said.