“Preppy Killer” Robert Chambers is headed back to prison.
The notorious strangler pleaded guilty to a felony drug possession charge in Manhattan Supreme Court today in return for a 19-year prison sentence, authorities said.
Chambers, 41, could’ve faced life behind bars had he been convicted of the top charge against him at trial – but he’s still getting a longer sentence than the 15 years he got for killing Jennifer Levin back in 1986.
Chambers’ lawyer did not immediately return a call for comment.
The drug addict was arrested at the E. 57th St. apartment he shared with girlfriend Shawn Kovell last October.
Authorities said the pair had turned their one-bedroom apartment into a crack den from which they peddled cocaine, crack and marijuana.
Investigators made seven undercover buys at the apartment, and said he’d sold them about half a pound of coke.
Chambers’ lawyer, Valerie Van Leer-Greenberg, had been contending that Chambers couldn’t be held responsible for his actions, because his “chronic drug abuse” over the years had left him with diminished capacity.
The unexpected deal was struck during a conference with his lawyer, prosecutors and Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Edward McLaughlin. The 19-year sentence includes six years for roughing up a cop when he was arrested.
He’ll be sentenced on Sept. 2.
Chambers gained infamy with the Levin killing, which he claimed was the accidental result of “rough sex” in Central Park.
He was convicted of manslaughter.
Kovell fell for Chambers during the trial, and they “dated” during his prison sentence. She pleaded guilty in December to criminal sale of drugs, and is currently in rehab. If the first-time offender keeps her nose clean, she’ll be allowed to plead guilty to a lower count that could potentially spare her jail time.