Jury convicts accountant of murdering colleague

A certified public accountant has been convicted of second-degree murder in the slaying of a prominent colleague.

WLKM FM reports the jury returned the verdict today in St. Joseph County Circuit Court for 37-year-old Andy Brown.

Prosecutors had sought a conviction for first-degree murder, which carries a mandatory life sentence without parole.

Brown could face up to life in prison on the second-degree murder conviction at his sentencing, which is scheduled for Aug. 29.

David Locey was found shot to death on Oct. 2 in his accounting office in Sherman Township, near Sturgis.

Prosecutors said the 70-year-old Locey had confronted Brown over embezzlement allegations.

Defense lawyer Michael Hills has said that his client was cooperative with police, repeatedly denying that he killed Locey.