Jury finds Sheley guilty in assault case

GALESBURG -- Jurors have found accused spree killer Nicholas Sheley guilty in connection with an assault on Knox County Jail employees.

After four hours of deliberations Wednesday, the jury found the 30-year-old guilty of three counts of aggravated battery, one count of aggravated assault and one count of criminal damage to government property for throwing pieces of a chair at jail workers.

Public Defender Jim Harrell said in closing arguments accounts from jail workers were inconsistent. Prosecutors on Tuesday showed jurors the chair as evidence, as well as photographs of injuries three deputies received.

Circuit Judge Stephen Mathers set Sheley's sentencing for Oct. 30.

Sheley is also charged with the June 2008 killing of six people in Illinois and two in Missouri.