Md. Judge Reverses Conviction In Deputy Slaying

HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) -- A judge in Hagerstown has reversed the 1980 murder conviction of a West Virginia man in the slaying of a Garrett County sheriff's deputy.

Washington County Circuit Judge Daniel Moylan issued his opinion Monday. He found that the judge at Roberto Rezek's trial gave improper jury instructions.

The 63-year-old Rezek, of Fairmont, W.Va., was sentenced to life plus 15 years in the 1979 shooting death of Deputy David Livengood.

Moylan ordered that Rezek remain in custody pending further proceedings.

Rezek and co-defendant Richard Tichnell were convicted of murdering Livengood when he caught them robbing an Army-Navy surplus store in downtown Oakland.

Tichnell died in prison in 2006.

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