Mendocino woman's killer sentenced to death in Reno

<p>RENO, Nev. - A jury sentenced a 28-year-old Nevada man to death for raping and killing a former Mendocino woman after sexually assaulting two others in Reno more than two years ago.</p><p>The same Washoe County District Court jury that convicted James Biela last week deliberated about nine hours before reaching a unanimous verdict Wednesday.</p><p>Biela was convicted of killing 19-year-old Brianna Denison, a sophomore at Santa Barbara City College in California, who grew up in Mendocino before her family relocated to Reno. She was abducted while sleeping at a friend's house over winter break from school. </p><p>Biela, a former pipe fitter from Sparks, will be sent to death row to await execution by lethal injection.</p><p>Biela's public defenders asked the jury to spare Biela's life because he had no previous criminal record and had been abused growing up in poverty in the Chicago area.</p>