Laymond Blanton Found Guilty

A verdict was handed down on the second day of the trial in the shooting death of Jacob Feller by 74-year-old Laymond Blanton. According to Sheriff Woody Wallace Blanton was found guilty of murder and aggravated assault, and not guilty of deadly conduct.

Blanton was agitated by Jacob Feller, and Nathan Shelton who he said drove their noisy motorcycles past his home in Harbor Point. He felt that they were purposely making the noise to agitate him and his wife. Blanton claimed that he tried to stop them to talk about their bikes. He finally ran into the road and argued with the two bikers which resulted in the shooting and killing of Fellers.

The defense attorney Jack Carrol Crossed examined Blanton who said he was afraid for his life and that he was defending himself. He told the court that the 74-year-old man was just reacting to what he felt was deadly force and being threatened by the two men.

Prosecutor, Benny Schiro, reviewed the evidence recorded by the Texas Ranger, the crime scene photos to clarify that there was no deadly force used and that it was a verbal argument. Backed by the testimonies for the witnesses the prosecutor called Tuesday; the jury believed that Jacob and Nathan did not use deadly force.

A school bus driver, Ms. Sanders, witnessed the killing and told the court that she drove up to the shooting with Blanton, Feller, and Shelton.

The defense attorney, Jack Carroll, tried to make the case that Blanton was afraid for his life, but the court did not accept it and returned a verdict of guilty murder and aggravated assault.