CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — A Jefferson County man is going to prison for at least 15 years after being convicted Friday on charges that he murdered his wife.
A 12-member panel deliberated for 10 hours before finding Harold David Stambaugh, Jr., 43, guilty of first-degree murder.
Defense attorneys unsuccessfully argued that Stambaugh was too drunk to plan the Nov. 7, 2014 murder. The evidence showed he walked from his house in Charles Town down the street to where his wife, Victoria, was living and killed her. She was shot five times.
Prosecutors didn’t deny Stambaugh was drunk but said it didn’t impact his ability to premeditate his wife’s death.
The jury found Stambaugh not guilty of burglary. The panel also agreed to a mercy sentence, which means Stambaugh has a chance for parole in 15 years.