Man given 55-year prison sentence for murder of rival

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (AP) - A southern Illinois man convicted in the 2014 shooting death of a romantic rival has been sentenced to 55 years in prison.

Caleb Bailey was found guilty of murdering 43-year-old Travis Mayes of Granite City. Mayes was found dead in an empty parking lot lying astride his tipped-over motorcycle. He had been shot in the head.

Madison County Circuit Judge Kyle Napp on Wednesday sentenced Bailey to 30 years in prison with an additional 25 years for the use of a gun. Bailey must serve 100 percent of his sentence.

Prosecutors said contended the 25-year-old Bailey shot Mayes out of jealous fury in a long-running feud over a woman both men had dated. The defense alleged Bailey was afraid for his life and reacted instinctively to Mayes as a threat.

Prior to sentencing, Napp denied a motion by defense attorney David Fahrenkamp for a new trial.

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Information from: Belleville News-Democrat, http://www.bnd.com