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Summarized by Rosemary Pollock
Murderer of LDS Father Found Guilty
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- A case of mistaken identity left an LDS father
of four, George Veit, shot to death while working as the store
manager at Best Auto on February 3, 1998. Veit, a Mormon church
leader, was similar in age and stature to Steve Conley who had been
present in the office moments before the shooter arrived.
Wearing a mask, gloves and a long coat, Steven Acosta fired two shots
into Veit, killing him. Police searched in vain for a motive, then
learned that Keith Shanley had spoken of his intention to have
someone kill Conley, who was living with Shanley's former girlfriend.
A year after the shooting, California authorities arrested Johnson on
a Las Vegas warrant after finding a methamphetamine lab in Johnson's
home. Johnson admitted to discussing killing Conley on several
occasions and that Acosta would be the triggerman.
An August trial found Shanley guilty of first-degree murder. He now
faces a minimum of 40 years in prison and will be sentenced on
October 17. As part of a plea agreement, Johnson was granted
probation. Acosta faces a possible sentence of two to 10 years in
prison when he is sentenced on November 1, by District Judge Sally
Loehrer.
Source:
Murder trial ends with guilty plea
Las Vegas NV Sun (AP) 20Sep00 D2
Associated Press
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