LUMBERTON — A Maxton man was found guilty of second-degree murder on Tuesday for the shooting death of another man in 2005.

William Locklear, 28, of 588 Jason Road, was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Richard Brown to 15 to 19 years in prison for the murder of Christopher Jones, 28, also of Maxton, according to court documents.

Locklear had been facing a charge of first-degree murder. A Robeson County jury found Locklear guilty of the lesser charge after deliberating for a couple of hours on Tuesday.

The jury opted for the lesser offense after defense attorney Michael Ramos successfully argued that the killing was not premeditated.

Assistant District Attorney Vanessa Burton disagreed, saying Locklear testified that he went to get his gun after seeing Jones riding down the road.

“The family (of Christopher Jones) seemed to be content that he’s not on the streets anymore,” Burton said this morning.

On Tuesday, Locklear was arrested in court at 2:45 p.m. after Judge Brown issued an arrest order for Locklear’s failure to appear — he arrived late for his trial — according to a Robeson County sheriff’s report.

On Oct. 8, 2005, Locklear shot Jones twice in the back with a high-powered automatic rifle while Jones was on a four-wheeler on John L Road in Maxton.

Witnesses told authorities that Locklear became angry at Jones for riding the four-wheeler in his mother’s yard, causing damages to the lawn and knocking down her mailbox, according to a sheriff’s report.

Locklear turned himself in to the Sheriff’s Office two days later and reportedly claimed he acted in self-defense.

Locklear has been in prison before, serving more than a year for breaking and entering and larceny, according to the North Carolina Department of Correction.

His criminal record also includes convictions for communicating threats, conspiracy, damage to personal property, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, according to the Department of Correction.

Burton said that charges against Locklear for assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to inflict serious injury and discharging a firearm at an occupied dwelling are pending for trial. Those charges are unrelated to the murder of Jones.

Locklear filed an appeal after his sentencing.