A convicted murderer will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing Dennis Pitch during a home invasion in Salisbury Township in 2016.

Christopher J. Lyles was convicted at trial in March of second-degree murder, robbery and related charges for what the sentencing judge called a “cold-blooded, ruthless and senseless killing.”

Lancaster County President Judge David Ashworth sentenced Lyles on Monday to life in prison, without parole possibility, plus 12½ to 40 years.

Assistant District Attorney Mark Fetterman said Pitch was an “everyday person, a working man” who was resting in his bed when intruders broke into his Timothy Drive home on the night of Dec. 2, 2016.

ADA Fetterman, who won the trial conviction, said Pitch was not killed because he was involved in a certain lifestyle.

“Dennis Pitch could be any one of us,” ADA Fetterman said. “The only mistake he made… was mentioning he had some money.”

And that is what Lyles and three accomplices conspired to take from Pitch, 52.

Brandon Bills, Kristopher Smith and Michael Baker also are charged. Their cases are pending. They are presumed innocent.

At sentencing, Lyles declined to say anything when prompted by Judge Ashworth.

Pitch’s brother wrote a letter which ADA Fetterman read aloud.

In the letter, Pitch’s brother scolded Lyles for being “too lazy to work” for a living.

‘You would rather rob, steal and kill someone,” the brother wrote in the letter.

Judge Ashworth, while ordering sentence, pointed to Lyles’ extensive criminal history, which includes seven prior appearances in court for separate matters.

Lyles is also an “admitted member of a prison gang,” the judge said, referring to a presentence investigation report.

“This was a not a crime of passion; this was a crime of deliberation,” Judge Ashworth said.

Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Jonathan Potoka filed charges. He attended the sentencing.

Among the evidence presented at Lyles’ trial was:

- Testimony from co-defendant Bills, who was with the group before and after the home invasion and stayed at the vehicle.

- Testimony about cellphone locations that tracked the group and placed them at or around Pitch’s home at the time of the murder.

- Testimony from a prison inmate who overheard Lyles discussing the murder.

- Surveillance video footage of Smith’s vehicle near Pitch’s home around the time of the murder.

Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Ponessa assisted in the prosecution.

MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright