Nesler Convicted Of First Degree Murder

By Bill Johnson Published May 24, 2005 05:40 am Updated Jan 31, 2009 02:23 pm

Sonora, CA — A 23-year-old man accused of stomping another to death just hours after being released from jail has been found guilty in Tuolumne County Superior court.

Jurors took just five hours to convict Willie Nesler of first degree murder in the beating death of 45-year-old David Davis last summer.

Witnesses testified that Nesler showed up looking for Davis at his property on Shaws Flat Road where Davis and three others were staying on the morning of July 25th.

Witnesses say Davis pled for his life as Nesler stomped on his head and chest. Davis later died at a Modesto hospital . Nesler´s attorney Donald Martell rested his case Friday without calling a witness.

Also convicted was 39-year-old Dean Phillips as an accessory to the murder. Both men face 25 years to life in prison.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 20th.