A Nevada man who killed a stranger at a Twin Falls motel early this summer avoided a possible death penalty by agreeing to plead guilty to first-degree murder. Twin Falls County Prosecutor Grant Loebs says 26-year-old Clark Cleveland, who shot Utah resident Tracy Ivie July 15 at the

loading...

Twin Falls Hampton Inn, will spend the rest of his life in prison as part of the deal announced Wednesday. Cleveland also agreed to plead guilty to taking a woman hostage and wounding an Idaho State Police trooper in the leg during the violent standoff. Loebs said sentencing is set for Dec. 8 for Cleveland, who is from Spring Creek in northeastern Nevada. Loebs had sought three extensions from a state court judge as he reviewed whether to seek the death penalty.

More From News Radio 1310 KLIX