Man Found Guilty of Murder Over Cell Phone

A jury deliberated quickly Tuesday and found a 28-year-old man guilty of first-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the death of a 30-year-old Anchorage man last summer.

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By Colleen Kelly

Story Created: May 3, 2011 at 12:30 PM AKDT

Story Updated: May 3, 2011 at 8:17 PM AKDT

A jury deliberated quickly Tuesday and found a 28-year-old man guilty of first-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the death of a 30-year-old Anchorage man last summer.

According to witnesses, in what began as a confrontation over ownership of a cell phone escalated between Ryan Angelo Malapit Sargento, 28, and John Lee Taylor Jr, 30, in Mt. View.

Sargento fired at Taylor with a handgun and then “pistol-whipped” him, said Anchorage police.

Police suspect Sargento fled the scene, ditched the handgun and hid in a nearby shed where an APD canine officer later discovered him

Sargento faced charges of first- and second-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence in the shooting death of Taylor.

According to court records, in 2000, the then 18-year-old Sargento was charged with second-degree theft and forgery. He then spent up to six months at the Alaska Military Youth Academy, earned his GED and paid $1,300 in restitution.

Then-Governor Frank Murkowski pardoned Sargento at the request of his mother.

During his term as governor from 2002 to 2006, Murkowski signed six pardons including Sargento’s.

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anchscanner said on Tuesday, May 3 at 2:09 PM

Good Riddance

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