By Pamela Sleezer A Vernon Parish woman was sentenced this week to 40 years in prison for the murder of her husband in 2024. Melissa Ann Sweat, 56, of Pitkin, received the state’s maximum possible sentence from Judge Tony A. Bennett on Tuesday, after Sweat pleaded guilty to manslaughter on December 17, 2025. Court officials said that at Sweat’s request, a sentencing hearing was held on January 28 to allow both Sweat and state prosecutors to pres…