A 20-year-old New Mexico man was convicted of committing second-degree murder when he beat a Farmington doctor to death using a pool cue, then stashed his remains in a pile of kindling.
The Farmington Daily Times reported that the jury indicted John Mayes after 10 hours of deliberation since Friday.
Mayes was not convicted of first-degree murder for killing Dr. James Nordstrom, who practiced medicine near his home in the Farmington Foothills neighborhood. Had he been indicted, Mayes would receive an automatic life sentence, AP reported. Instead, he was charged with the five lesser charges - including aggravated burglary and evidence tampering - which will give him a maximum prison sentencing of 31-and-a-half years.
Mayes reportedly broke into Nordstrom's house in November, when he intended to rob the doctor. But when the burglar saw that Nordstrom was at home watching television, he grabbed a pool cue and hid in the bedroom.
When the doctor entered, Mayes used the cue to beat Nordstrom to death. He then hid Nordstrom's mangled body beneath a wood pile near his house. He also reportedly stole Nordstrom's truck and wallet, then racked up $3,000 worth of charges to his credit cards.
The defense offered another store: Nordstrom allegedly told Mayes to come over to his house, then approached him in a sexual manner. Mayes answered in an act of self-defense, lawyers told the court.
