A Jefferson County jury this week found a 23-year-old man guilty of murder .
James Dominguez-Castor was convicted of 10 counts in the “brutal” murder of Robert Phippen, who was found dead with his throat slashed and over 60 knife wounds to his body, the county district attorney’s office said in a news release Friday.
Dominguez-Castor robbed Phippen and stole his van, leaving the elderly man’s home ransacked.
During 10 days of trial, the jury heard how Dominguez-Castor and his co-defendant, Stephvon Atencio, 31, entered Phippen’s home intending to rob him.
The release says Dominguez-Castor knew Phippen casually, having for a short period stayed in the older man’s home.
The jury was showing surveillance video of Dominguez-Castor and Atencio trying to cash checks they had stolen the day of the killing. Police officers found Phippen dead while conducting a welfare check.
Dominguez-Castor was found guilty of counts including first-degree murder, aggravated robbery and aggravated motor vehicle theft.
Dominguez-Castor had two prior felony convictions and faces charges of being a habitual criminal at his March 6 sentencing. His conviction includes a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison without parole, the district attorney’s office said.
Atencio pleaded guilty earlier this month to charges of second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery in the slaying. Atencio faces up to 48 years in prison at a Feb. 17 sentencing.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or twitter.com/JesseAPaul
