A jury on Wednesday convicted a suspect on charges of intentionally hitting and killing a Montana deputy with a vehicle during a pursuit last year.
Adam Sanchez Jr. was found guilty of on all counts in the Aug. 14, 2014 death of Cascade County Sheriff's Deputy Joseph Dunn, according to The Great Falls Tribune.
The 33-year-old deputy was attempting to put down stop sticks during a chase involving Sanchez outside the town of Belt when he was struck and killed.
The trial was held at the Yellowstone County Courthouse in Billings due to the pretrial publicity in Great Falls.
Sanchez was found guilty of deliberate homicide under the felony murder rule with the underlying charge of assault with a weapon, criminal endangerment for nearly striking a family's vehicle with a baby inside, assault with a weapon for steering his vehicle toward a Great Falls police officer and assault on a peace officer for injuring Great Falls Police Officer Clint Houston during the struggle to subdue him after the pursuit had ended.
Robynn Dunn, Joe's widow, gave her mother-in-law, Linda, a long hug after the verdict was read.
"I lost it," Cascade County Sheriff Bob Edwards told the newspaper after District Judge Dirk Sandefur read the jury's verdict.
p> "This makes a huge statement. We’re going to do our job, we're going to do it well . . . We're still people. We’re not going to take abuse."
Cascade County Attorney John Parker called the verdict "justice for all five victims," especially Dunn.
“I'm hopeful this brings comfort and peace to Joe’s family," he said.
Parker's office plans on seeking life without the possibility of parole for Sanchez. The sentencing is expected to take place in six weeks.
