Ex-Gladstone PD sergeant convicted in wife’s killing

OREGON CITY, Ore. (AP) — A former police sergeant accused of having his wife killed in a town south of Portland has been found guilty of aggravated murder.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports (https://goo.gl/GcNo8G) former Gladstone police Sgt. Lynn Benton was found guilty Friday of arranging the 2011 killing of Debbie Benton at her beauty salon.

The jury deliberated more than five days after a five-week trial, finding him guilty of aggravated murder, criminal conspiracy to commit aggravated murder and attempted murder.

Prosecutors say Benton had his wife killed because he was afraid he could lose his job if she disclosed domestic abuse and knew he would benefit financially from her death.

Benton didn’t testify in his defense.

The jury will begin considering next week whether the 54-year-old Benton should be sentenced to life in prison or be put to death.

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Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com