Man who defends himself found guilty of murder

RENO, Nev. - A man who represented himself was found guilty Friday of first-degree murder in the New Year's Eve shooting death of a woman near here.

A Washoe District Court jury took only about an hour to return the verdict against Junior Walker Mills, 60, of Searchlight.

Mills faces up to two consecutive life terms without parole when he's sentenced for the murder of Stephanie Ann Rivera, 43.

The victim was found shot in the chest and near death in a field off the Mount Rose Highway just south of Reno. She later died at a Reno hospital.

A DNA expert testified this week that blood samples taken from the victim were identical to blood found on Mill's jacket and truck.

Earlier this year, Justice of the Peace Barbara Finley ruled that Mills could represent himself.

Mills told the judge he had successfully represented himself in other criminal actions, though he has no formal education.

During the trial, Mills repeatedly sought to introduce information related to his other arrests, which resulted in no convictions.

He also sought to shore up his apparent defense that police violated his constititional rights in seizing evidence from his trucks, motor home and mobile home in the Searchlight area.

However, district Judge Steven Kosach repeatedly said there were no violations of Mills constitutional rights.

''What the hell does that have to do with the defense of a murder case?'' Kosach testily asked Mills when he tried to ask questions about why an impounded vehicle of his had been sold.