Teen gets life sentence in `Candyman' slaying

WAGONER, Okla. (AP) -- The 18-year-old killer of a Wagoner candy vendor is headed to prison to serve a life term. District Judge Bruce Sewell sentenced Byron Burton on Tuesday for the July 23 slaying

Wednesday, March 8th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WAGONER, Okla. (AP) -- The 18-year-old killer of a Wagoner candy vendor is headed to prison to serve a life term. District Judge Bruce Sewell sentenced Byron Burton on Tuesday for the July 23 slaying of Leonard Hill, 60, during a bungled robbery attempt. Burton halted his murder trial last week by agreeing to plead guilty.

In addition to the life term, Sewell gave Burton a consecutive but suspended 10-year sentence for conspiracy to commit murder. Burton and two other teens went to Hill's home, where he sold candy and soft drinks, with a plan to rob the man at gunpoint, according to a report prepared by the Corrections Department.

The trio left, but Burton later returned to Hill's home. He pointed his gun at Hill, who "went for his pistol and I fired and he fired (and) then I fired once more and the pistol jammed," the statement said.

Deon Smith, 18, of Coweta and Joseph Wright, 18, of Broken Arrow await trial on first-degree murder and robbery charges.