Gaston found guilty in teachers murder

Javon Gaston

A Calhoun County man has been convicted of two counts capital murder in the slaying of a school teacher. It took a jury just less than three hours to find Jovon Gaston guilty of murder in the course of a robbery, and murder in the course of a kidnapping. He was convicted of killing Wellborn Elementary teacher Kevin Thompson, in 2011.

Gaston and two other men were charged with kidnapping Thompson from his Jacksonville home, killing him, stealing his car and ATM card and dumping Thompson's body in nearby Cherokee County.

Nicholas Smith was convicted and sentenced to die for his role in the case in 2013.

Tyrone Thompson, no relation to Kevin Thompson, is still awaiting trial.

Defense attorneys maintained there was no evidence linking Gaston to the murder. The sentencing phase of Gaston's trial starts today.