State vs Johnson - Johnson found guilty in 2011 murder of April Smith

A jury of five men and seven women found Craig Johnson, 48, guilty of first degree murder, use of a weapon to commit a felony and possession of a deadly weapon by a felon yesterday afternoon in Cheyenne County District Court.

Johnson was convicted for the death of April Smith, his girlfriend at the time. He could be punished with life in prison, according to Cheyenne County attorney Paul Schaub.

Following closing arguments, the case was submitted to the jury just after 11 a.m. Monday and the verdict came in around 2 p.m., after three hours of deliberation.

Kelly Breen and Todd Lancaster with t...