WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — A man convicted of murdering former coal executive Ben Hatfield is scheduled to be sentenced next month.
Anthony Arriaga, of Gibsonburg, Ohio, will be back in court Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. He was found guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree robbery and two counts of conspiracy on Oct. 20.
He faces life in prison for the murder charge and 40 years for the robbery charge.
Authorities said Arriaga shot Hatfield in May 2016 while Hatfield was decorating his wife’s grave at the Memory Garden Cemetary in Maher.
Arriaga and co-defendant Brandon Fitzpatrick, of Louisa, Kentucky, were allegedly trying to steal Hatfield’s upscale SUV and sell it for parts. During the trial, Arriaga testified is was Fitzpatrick who pulled the trigger.
Fitzpatrick is scheduled to go on trial before Arriaga is sentenced. Fitzpatrick’s trial starts Dec. 4 at 8 a.m. He faces the same charges as Arriaga.