The Virginian-Pilot
©
CHESAPEAKE
A Circuit Court judge denied an appeal for a new trial based on alleged juror misconduct for a man convicted of shooting two Mormon missionaries in 2006.
Circuit Court Judge Randy Smith ruled juror behavior did not influence the panel’s guilty verdict for James Boughton Jr. A jury convicted Boughton of first degree murder and malicious wounding in December 2008 for shooting Morgan W. Young and Joshua Heidbrink.
Boughton’s attorney, Andrew Sacks, argued a female juror failed to tell the truth about past criminal victimization in her marriage. He also said other jurors showed bias during the trial.
But Smith wrote in a Jan. 6 ruling he considered the arguments and "finds that no facts establish that the jury’s verdict should be questioned or set aside."
Sacks said Monday he intends to seek a new trial for Boughton. Chesapeake Commonwealth’s Attorney Nancy Parr declined to comment on the ongoing case.
The jury recommended Boughton’s 38-year and six-month sentence for killing Young and wounding Heidbrink. The two men were shot as they went door-to-door in a Deep Creek neighborhood.
A sentencing date has not been set.
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
Consequences
I was horrified to hear about these two young servants of the Lord! I totally agree that this man needs to face the harsh consequences of his actions, but anything he faces here on Earth will be NOTHING compared to what he will face in Heaven! God's plan was for us to come to Earth and live the way we choose to live, while doing all we can to follow His teachings and return to Him after we leave here. Unfortunately, this plan is a double-edged sword. Yes, we have the freedom to choose, but that means there are those that would choose to turn their backs on Him and do evil! Believe you me, this man will have his punishment, whether it be in this world or in the next!
Shooting of Missionaries
This thug only got 38 years?! That's a joke. He killed innocent, defenseless kids in cold blood, and he'd do it again in a heart-beat if he thought for a second he could get away with it. Lock him up and throw away the key!!
exactly
This is EXACTLY the kind of case that DESERVES to have the death sentence carried out POST HASTE. These seemingly endless appeals need to stop. If it's more than obvious that someone committed a crime such as this there SHOULD be an express lane to the death chamber. To allow any criminal to live for 18 or so years wasting OUR tax money on appeals is a travesty and an insult to the victims families.
Commits a Crime to Cover a Crime
This piece of dirt killed the young man and shot his partner only to conceal the fact that the two witnessed him committing another crime. He deserves to die; but the jury only recommeded 38 years. I suppose that is all they thought a young life was worth. Everyone is entitled to a fair trial - he got it. I hope the judge's sentence will be at least life so society can forget him and remember a young missionary's shortened life.
I've never understood why it
I've never understood why it takes so much money to execute someone. A.45 caliber bullet costs about 2 dollars. Done deal.
Believe it or not
...It is actually cheaper to house, clothe and feed an inmate for 38 years than it is to try to execute him/her.
The cost of litigation in Florida for an execution in a capital case is over $20.,000,000.00. That's a lot more expensive than letting them rot in prison.
A LIFE FOR A LIFE
Life for a Life, let the worthless scum die. Why do we waste our tax payers money to let this worthless, disgusting animal live.
Uh....
Don't hold back reenos. Tell us how you really feel.