A Thomson man was convicted of murder in McDuffie County Superior Court on Friday.
Dennis Clemons, who formerly lived on First Street in Thomson, was found guilty following a bench trial before Toombs Judicial Circuit Chief Superior Court Judge Roger W. Dunaway, Jr. The 64-year-old Mr. Clemons had waived a jury trial. Mr. Clemons is a former janitor with the McDuffie County Sheriff's Department.
His conviction on the charges of malice murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon was in connection with the shooting death of Shirley Hunt on July 31, 2008. The slaying took place in a bedroom of Ms. Hunt's single-wide mobile home off Hobbs Mill Road, near Dearing.
Judge Dunaway's finding of guilt came shortly before 4 p.m. with McDuffie County Superior Court Clerk Connie Cheatham reading his decision to a courtroom consisting mostly of Ms. Hunt's relatives.
Afterwards, Judge Dunaway sentenced Mr. Clemons to life imprison, plus five years consecutively on the other two charges.
