COVINGTON — Jurors took less than two hours Friday to find Ronald Scott Pryor guilty of killing Delta Air Lines pilot Stephen Craven in his Edgewood home nearly two years ago.

        Testimony in the trial of Mr. Pryor, 35, of Independence, lasted five days. During the penalty phase, which begins Monday, jurors could recommend that Mr. Pryor receive the death sentence or they could recommend a lesser sentence.

        Sentencing by Kenton County Circuit Judge Patricia Summe will then occur within 90 days of the jury's recommendation.

        The minimum sentence for a murder conviction in Kentucky is 20 years in prison.

        Mr. Pryor's trial was Northern Kentucky's first death-penalty trial in nearly three years.

        Kenton County police said Mr. Pryor was hired for $15,000 to kill Mr. Craven, 38, who was found beaten and shot to death in his home on July 12, 2000.

        Prosecutor Luke Morgan said Mr. Pryor beat and shot Mr. Craven to death out of greed. Rusty McIntire, 33, of Erlanger, testified this week that he started a sexual relationship with Mr. Craven's wife, Adele, months before Mr. Craven's killing. He also testified that Ms. Craven inquired about
whether he could find someone to kill Mr. Craven, a father of two.

        Mr. McIntire said on the stand that he eventually offered Mr. Pryor, who had worked odd jobs for Mr. McIntire, $15,000 to kill Mr. Craven. He said Mr. Pryor, a former car washer for an auto dealer, agreed to the job because he needed the money.

        Friday's testimony by two witnesses — one for the defense and one for the prosecution — focused on conversations Mr. McIntire may have had in jail about his participation in the killing.

        Ms. Craven, 38, is scheduled to stand trial separately on a murder charge Oct. 29. Mr. McIntire is cooperating with the prosecution and has pleaded guilty to murder in exchange for avoiding the possibility of the death penalty.

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