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Rios GuiltyJury Recommends Life Plus 10 Yearsfor Former Columbia Cop
A jury convicted former Columbia police officer Steven Rios for the first-degree murder in the death of a gay college student with whom he had an affair.
The jury, brought in from Clay County, deliberated nine hours before convicting Steven Rios of slashing Jesse Valencia's throat last June.
Rios, 28, was also convicted of armed criminal action and faces a mandatory sentence of life without parole for the murder conviction.
The jury recommended a 10-year term for armed criminal action. Formal sentencing was set for July 5.
Prosecutors said Rios, a married father, killed Valencia, 23, to keep him from revealing their relationship. Public defender Valerie Leftwich had contended that an affair was not proof of murder.
The jury began deliberating shortly after 2 p.m. Friday and broke for the night about 9:30 p.m., before resuming deliberations Saturday morning.
Valencia, a student at MU, was last seen at a party early June 5, 2004, in his neighborhood east of campus. A neighbor in the building reported hearing Valencia arguing with someone early that morning. His body was found later that day in a nearby yard.
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Complete Coveragefrom the Beginning
Rios met Valencia in April 2004, when he arrested the student for interfering with him and another officer as they answered a police call about a loud party. During his trial, he testified that their sexual relationship began that night.
Rios admitted that he lied about the affair, but on the standhe said he was with co-workers when Valencia was killed.
Despite the verdict, a Rios family representative spoke to the media after the sentencing. He said Rios' family continued to believe in Rios' innocence, and he maintained an appeal will clear Rios.
Rios' lawyers have ten days to file an appeal.