MADISONVILLE-It took more than three years to get the case to trial, but a jury took very little time to convict Danny Sean Adams Jr. Friday.

The jury found Adams innocent of criminally negligent homicide, but did find him guilty of simple assault in the July 2009 death of Vince Cole at Hidden Lake Campground in the Tellico Plains area. Four people were charged in the death of Cole, but two suspects had charges dropped while a third, Sydne Melissa Cole, pleaded guilty to an assault charge in February, receiving an 11 months and 29 days suspended sentence.

Various things, including DNA tests, had the trial rescheduled several times, but once the state was able to present its case, the jury took very little time to find Adams guilty on the simple assault charge.

Witnesses had told the Monroe County Sheriff's Department that Cole and Adams had been arguing with Anderson over an alleged hand gesture when the three began fighting. Witnesses said Cole punched Anderson three times in the face and Anderson pulled out a gun and told them to get back.

See full story in the Wednesday, September 5, edition of The Advocate & Democrat.