Nevada man to spend life in prison for killing

TWIN FALLS (AP) - A Nevada man who killed a stranger at a southern Idaho motel early this summer avoided a possible death penalty by agreeing to plead guilty to first-degree murder.

Twin Falls County Prosecutor Grant Loebs says 26-year-old Clark Cleveland, who shot Utah resident Tracy Ivie July 15 at a Twin Falls Hampton Inn, will spend the rest of his life in prison as part of the deal announced Wednesday.

Cleveland also agreed to plead guilty to taking a woman hostage and wounding an Idaho State Police trooper in the leg during the violent standoff.

Loebs said sentencing is set for Dec. 8 for Cleveland, who is from Spring Creek in northeastern Nevada.

Loebs had sought three extensions from a state court judge as he reviewed whether to seek the death penalty.