Man Found Guilty In Bay Point 'Golden Flute' Slaying
MARTINEZ (AP) -- A 24-year-old janitor who moonlighted as a prostitute has been convicted of first-degree murder in the slaying of a client that was motivated by the older man's sterling silver and solid gold flutes.
A Contra Costa County jury deliberated for about two days before finding Alejandro Hernandez Rivera, of Vallejo, guilty for the December 2008 strangling death of 66-year-old Theodore Neff of Bay Point.
Prosecutors allege that Rivera advertised his sexual services for $140 an hour on Craigslist and counted Neff as a regular client before he strangled him, set fire to his town house and made off with the valuable flutes later found in Rivera's car.
During his trial, Rivera admitted strangling Neff but claimed he lost control after Neff told him he may have been exposed to the HIV virus.
Rivera faces a maximum prison sentence of 28 years to life.
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