HARRODSBURG, Ky. (AP) -- A jury recommended a 50-year sentence for a man convicted of murder in the 2005 slaying of a night watchman at a tobacco warehouse.

Jimmy Crews, 53, of Salvisa was convicted Thursday in the death of Darrin Maddox, 34, who was shot in the back and beaten in the head.

Prosecutors argued that the motive was robbery, saying Crews needed money because his tobacco crop was poor. Crews’ attorneys said he was not hurting financially.

Before the jury’s verdict, defense attorney Elmer George said there was plenty of reasonable doubt for a jury to acquit Crews.  George said there was no gunshot residue on Crews and no blood on his hands, shoes or coveralls.

“This case is riddled with reasonable doubt,” George said.

Special prosecutor Barbara Whaley said there were holes in Crews’ story that he and Maddox were beaten and robbed by five men.  She said Maddox’s wallet containing $326 was still on him when he was taken to the hospital. Crews still had a checkbook that was stuffed with $58.

Whaley said Maddox left the warehouse and went across the street seeking help from neighbors before he died.

“His actions that night cry out that he was running from his attacker ... to get away from him, who had beat him in the head and shot him in the back,” Whaley said.

Crews will be sentenced June 12. With a 50-year sentence, he would be eligible for parole in a little more than 17 years because of credit for the 21/2 years he has served in the Boyle County jail.

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Information from:

Lexington Herald-Leader, http://www.kentucky.com

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)