Bremen man guilty
By Stacey Creasy
GOSHEN � A Bremen man has been found guilty of killing 18-year-old Christopher Brown, in order to steal drugs from the teenager in August.
An Elkhart County jury deliberated for only four hours before finding Timothy J. Gaines guilty of his role in beating Brown to death
Gaines was one of five defendants charged in connection with the homicide.
The deliberations followed a three-day trial. Some of the testimony during the trial seemed like a script from a movie.
Also charged were Ken Roney, 24; Robert Harper, 32; and Amber Lace, 21, along with Amber�s mother, Debra Morris, were out to steal crystal methamphetamine from Brown.
Roney and Harper are also from the Bremen area.
Brown is from Nappanee and graduated from Northwood High School. He moved to Goshen about a year before his death.
Harper, 33, testified in Gaines� trial that he is a drug enforcer, who collects debts. He allegedly ordered Brown be beaten and to steal his car.
Harper brought Gaines and Roney with him as backup since he knew Brown carried a gun.
However, during the struggle, Brown attempted to use his handgun which discharged. The bullet went into the apartment next door, but no one was injured.
Brown was then beaten, tied up and beaten again. The defendants used a golf club and a fire extinguisher to beat Brown, who died from blunt force trauma to the head.
Court reports state Gaines remained silent when the verdict was read and as he was taken out of the courtroom.
Several of Gaines� relatives were there for the trail and the verdict. They were visibly upset as the guilty verdict was handed down.
Brown�s family have also sat through the court proceedings. They will return July 11 when Elkhart Superior Court Judge Terry Shewmaker issues Gaines� sentence.
Gaines was the last defendant to stand trail. Roney, Harper and Lace pleaded guilty to murder charges and received 55 and 65 year sentences.
Morris was sentenced to 20 years on a robbery plea deal.
Gaines faces anywhere from 45 to 65 years or life in prison without parole for murder while committing robbery.
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