By Kevin Jefferies/Brad Kellar
Greenville – A jury has found a man guilty yesterday on all counts in connection with a Quinlan-area murder. Cory Joe Locke was found guilty of the murder of 43 year old Michael Patrick Bates, aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, aggravated kidnapping, and burglary of a habitation. He faces up to life in prison on each count except the burglary, which carries a maximum of 20 years in prison.
The jury deliberated for about three hours before reaching the unanimous decisions on each charge.
Bates died of a shotgun wound to the chest in early June last year. Dena Waldon and James Paul Russell Jr. were also indicted in connection with the crime. Trial for Russell is pending while Waldon agreed to testify against Locke and Russell in exchange for a guilty plea to aggravated robbery and a probated sentence.
Click here to listen as Brad Kellar reports.