ROBERTSDALE, Alabama -- A Robertsdale man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the January 2012 shooting death of a Wilcox area man.

Aaron Thomas Cart, 26, of Robertsdale, pleaded guilty to murder in Baldwin County’s Circuit Court and was sentenced that day, according to a press release issued Thursday by the Baldwin County District Attorney’s office.

Dennis Ray Wilcox, 55, was found dead in the early morning hours at his Wilcox home, the victim of a single gunshot wound to the head from a 30-30 rifle, Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack said in a phone interview conducted at the time.

 “He had been dead for some time,” Mack said. Wilcox was found when his son returned home around 1 a.m. Saturday morning. After talking with the son and other witnesses, it was established that Cart had stayed with Wilcox on several occasions and had been seen with Wilcox earlier in the evening. A weapon believed to be involved in the shooting was found at the scene, Mack said.

Cart was found a short time later, sleeping in a car at someone else’s residence on Patterson Road, Mack said. Cart was arrested and charged with murder.

At the time, Cart had no permanent residence, Mack said, but had lived with his mother in the Wilcox area as a teenager and had spent time in New Mexico before returning to the area about six to nine months prior to the shooting.

“He has been staying with friends at various residences in the area,” Mack said.

His address was listed as Patterson Road, Robertsdale when he was arrested on Dec. 6, 2011 on harassment charges. He was released on a $500 bond. When he was booked in 2012, his address was listed as Depot Lane, Robertsdale.