Sentencing delay for Palermo man who killed stepsister

Story Created: Nov 6, 2009 at 10:05 AM EST

Story Updated: Nov 6, 2009 at 10:05 AM EST

OSWEGO, N.Y. (AP) - Sentencing has been delayed for a 29-year-old central New York man convicted of murdering his 11-year-old stepsister, who lived in filth and was starved by her parents.

Alan Jones of Palermo was found guilty in September of killing Erin Maxwell. His sentencing was postponed Friday until Nov. 16 so a judge can consider a last-minute defense motion to set aside the verdict.

At trial, Jones' lawyer argued Erin Maxwell accidentally hanged herself acting out a scene from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies in her bedroom on Aug. 29, 2008. Prosecutors said Jones strangled her.

Authorities say the family's home was littered with piles of feces from more than 100 cats. Maxwell's parents each got two years in jail after convictions on multiple child endangerment charges.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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