Man convicted in La Crosse photo store homicides

By: Associated Press//July 31, 2013//

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Jeffrey Lepsch, of Dakota, Minn., left, has a quick word with his family Tuesday, July 30, 2013, shortly after he was found guilty of fatally shooting a La Crosse photography store owner and his teenage son in a robbery, in La Crosse, Wis.. Lepsch was found guilty of killing 56-year-old Paul Petras and his 19-year-old son A.J. in May's Photo in downtown La Crosse on Sept. 15 and then cleaning out their store of about $17,000 worth of equipment. (AP Photo/La Crosse Tribune, Rory O'Driscoll) — Jeffrey Lepsch (left), of Dakota, Minn., has a word with his family Tuesday shortly after he was found guilty of fatally shooting a La Crosse photography store owner and his teenage son in a robbery in La Crosse. (AP Photo/La Crosse Tribune, Rory O’Driscoll)

LA CROSSE, Wis. (AP) — A jury in western Wisconsin has convicted a Minnesota man of fatally shooting a La Crosse photography store owner and his teenage son in a robbery.

The jury deliberated four hours Tuesday before convicting 40-year-old Jeffrey Lepsch.

The Dakota, Minn., man was found guilty of killing 56-year-old Paul Petras and his 19-year-old son A.J. in May’s Photo in downtown La Crosse on Sept. 15 and then cleaning out their store of about $17,000 worth of equipment.

The La Crosse Tribune reports Lepsch faces a life sentence.

Prosecutor Tim Gruenke said the victims’ family is satisfied with the verdict but adds, “it’s hard to be happy.”

The prosecution argued Lepsch needed the camera equipment to sell for cash to support his family.

Lepsch’s attorney called the state’s evidence a “mirage.”

Information from: La Crosse Tribune, http://www.lacrossetribune.com

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