Fresno man gets first degree murder in death of his former lover

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A 27-year-old Fresno man has been convicted of first degree murder in the death of his former lover. A jury made the decision Tuesday morning to convict Alfredo Chavez, after two and a half days of deliberating. The victim, 39-year-old Martin Garcia Zepeda was found beaten to death in his home in 2010.

Chavez is now looking at 25 years to life in prison. A jury says he's guilty of beating Zepeda to death with a dumbbell. Just hours after Chavez was found guilty -- his accomplice -- Brian Munoz pled guilty to second degree murder to avoid a lengthy trial.

"We the jury find Alfredo Salinas Chavez guilty of violation of first degree murder of Martin Garcia Zepeda," said a clerk.

Several members of an emotional jury wiped away tears as they handed over the verdict. Alfredo Salinas Chavez on the other hand simply looked defeated in court Tuesday when jurors unanimously found him guilty of murder.

"You have a young man who feels remorse of course you wish you could go back and think if this didn't happen he'd be home with his mom," said defense attorney Ralph Torres.

The victim was found brutally beaten in his home four years ago this week. Chavez and Zepeda had a sexual relationship, and often times the victim paid Chavez for sex. Torres says that made it harder for the jury to come to a decision.

"It really pulled on the heartstrings. They were friends. They had a relationship," said Torres.

The jury says Chavez is guilty of beating Zepeda to death with a dumbbell after a sexual encounter gone wrong. The defense tried arguing Chavez only knocked him out and someone finished the job after he left. But the evidence didn't add up and now Chavez is looking at a life sentence.

"It never gets any easier. The circumstances and the facts change but you have a human being, being tried and you have a tragic death of an individual," said Torres.

Chavez's accomplice -- gang member Brian Munoz -- took a plea deal later in the afternoon. Since he's guilty of second degree murder he'll face a sentence of 15 years to life.