Man convicted of lesser charge in Elko slaying

ELKO — A 23-year-old man has been convicted of a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of an Elko woman last year.

The Elko Daily Free Press reported that Matthew Deacon smiled when a jury returned the verdict Friday night in the June 15 shooting of Casey Jo Tervort outside his home.

He instead could have been convicted of first- or second-degree murder.

Police said Deacon admitted he fired the shot that killed Tervort after the two argued at a trailer park June 15.

But Deacon said he did not do it on purpose. He maintained the shooting was an accident caused by his shotgun’s “hair trigger.”