The jury in the case against a former Nickerson man charged with a number of serious felonies came back Thursday night with a mixed verdict.

31-year-old Zachary Lawson is one of three men charged in a case from 2011 involving the alleged kidnapping and beating of Larry McVey. He was found “not guilty” of aggravated kidnapping, but “guilty” of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, aggravated battery, criminal threat, possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, anabolic steroids and criminal use of a weapon by a drug user. He was also found “not guilty” of aggravated burglary and aggravated intimidation of a witness.

The jury received the case around 2:45 p-m, and had a verdict around after 7 p-m.

He along with Jeremia Palmer, and Jedrik Smith were arrested for the kidnapping and beating of Larry McVey. McVey reported that he had been kidnapped and beaten by the three men back in the early morning hours of September 8, 2011.

The last witness for the defense with the defendant himself. Lawson took the stand istating that on the night and early morning in question, he had been coming down off of methamphetamine, having been up pretty much the 3-days prior. He had left the garage or shop at his home and went inside his home and ate supper. He admitted that he didn’t lock up the shop and fell asleep. He had a friend spending the night and she was awaken by an urgent knock. It was Palmer and Smith and before he answered, he admits he grabbed a handgun and place in his waistband. He says he did it for protection of those inside his home including the female friend and her son.

That led to him going to the garage with the two men, then observed what they did to the victim. He says he was still groggy from being woke up and was trying to figure out what was going on. He says he never struck the victim, but on cross examination, admitted he didn’t do anything to stop it either even though he had a gun on him. Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton pressed him on why he didn’t stop it since he considered Palmer and Smith acquaintances and not really friends. Stanton asked, but you didn’t tell them, “you are not going to do this in my place?” did you? Lawson told him and the jury, “No, I didn’t.” He said he didn’t call police because he knew he had illegal drugs.

They also talked about the large amount of weapons and ammunition found at his residence. He says he likes to hunt and target shoot. He also admitted using methamphetamine and marijuana, but denied being a meth addict. Drugs were found on the property and his person at the time a search was being conducted on his home a few days after the beating.

The two co-defendants, Palmer and Smith have already been sentenced in this case. Palmer was given a total of 78-months in prison, for this case and two others. Smith was sentenced to 196-months for two cases against him including this case.

Sentencing for Zachary Lawson will come some 30-days down the road.