LAS VEGAS - A Las Vegas man faces at least 40 years in prison after jurors found him guilty of murder in a February 1998 contract killing in which the wrong man was slain.
The family of the victim, 42-year-old George Veit Jr., welcomed the verdict but struggled to understand the series of events that claimed the life of the father of four and active leader in the Mormon Church.
Prosecutors and attorneys for Keith Shanley agreed he was not present when Veit was shot to death at an auto repair shop. But prosecutors contended that Shanley participated in the conspiracy that led to the killing.
They said the intended victim was Shanley's love rival, Steve Conley, who worked at the same auto repair shop. Shanley testified last week that he and Conley often exchanged harsh words after Shanley's longtime girlfriend left him to live with Conley.
He even acknowledged that he spoke with his friend, Steven Acosta, about having Conley beaten up or intimidated. But he said he never asked Acosta, accused of being the triggerman, to murder Conley. Acosta's capital murder trial is scheduled to begin next month.
On cross-examination, Chief Deputy District Attorney David Wall confronted Shanley with the testimony of people who said he made incriminating statements. Shanley said much of that testimony was unreliable because it came from people who used methamphetamine.
Jurors deliberated all day Monday and part of Tuesday morning before finding Shanley, 30, guilty of first-degree murder with use of a deadly weapon. He faces a minimum of 40 years in prison when he is sentenced Oct. 17 by District Judge Sally Loehrer. He faces a maximum penalty of life without possibility of parole for the murder charge and he could receive additional time for related counts.