Niland Man Convicted of Plotting Murder with His Girlfriend’s Husband
NILAND – A Niland Man has been convicted of murder three years after the brutal shooting of a local business man.
On Tuesday, December 10, Richard Edward Davis was found guilty of first-degree murder. Davis was convicted of shooting Steven Cooke, 44, a Texas resident who had a business in Slabs.
In September 2010, Davis plotted Cooke’s murder with Anne Marie Polson, with whom he was romantically involved at the time. According to Imperial County Deputy District Attorney Jeffrey Brooker the couple plotted the murder of Davis together, who was Polson’s husband, so that the two could be together.
Davis crept up on Cooke late on Sunday night and shot him in the back of the head. Officers were called to the incident and medical personnel pronounced Cooke dead at the scene. Investigators interviewed people in the area following the crime and quickly rounded up two suspects. Davis, 51, and Polson, 36, both of whom were Niland residents, were arrested on suspicion of homicide.
The case has stretched on after a two-year continuance. Deputy District Attorney Jeffrey Brooker said in April of this year that his wished to push the case through. However, over the people’s objection, the case was continued for jury trial Aug. 13 due to the illness of a defense witness. After several other delays, the case was finally scheduled for a jury trial in November.
The jury also found Davis guilty of conspiracy to commit murder. The use of a firearm has enhanced the charges against him. He currently faces a minimum sentence of 75 years to life in prison.
Polson has yet to be convicted and is scheduled for trial in January. She is being charged with conspiracy to commit murder and first-degree murder for aiding and abetting the crime.
Read more:
Imperial Valley Press: Niland homicide case continued
