Lin Sentenced To 40 Years

Just weeks after a jury found him guilty of beating his wife (a New Tampa business owner) to death, a Lutz man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison.

According to Hillsborough County court records, Chunping Lin, 46, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for second-degree murder and battery on March 8 in Hillsborough County court. He will, however, receive 654 days in jail credit for time served, as he has been in the Hillsborough County jail since he was arrested at a neighbor’s home on May 25, 2011, five days following the incident.

Also recommended by the jury was placement in a facility that can address his substance abuse issues, specifically alcohol, which played a part in the fatal beating of Lin’s wife, 43-year-old Lixin Tian, who owned the Joy of Tokyo restaurant that used to be located in the Oak Ramble Plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd.

Upon release, records state, Lin still will face five years of probation.