Curtis Padgett Convicted of First-Degree Murder in Cedar Rapids

(Cedar Rapids, IA) -- A Cedar Rapids judge finds Curtis Padgett guilty of murder.

Padgett was convicted of first-degree murder on Monday in the 2007 death of Dennis First. Padgett had elected for a bench trial, as opposed to a jury trial. First was found dead at a Cedar Rapids apartment on May 11th of 2007, and the case had seemingly gone cold. New evidence led to Padgett being identified as a suspect.

His sentencing is scheduled for July 9th.