HOWELL, Mich., Jan. 29 (UPI) -- A jury Wednesday convicted the man authorities say is the Interstate 96 sniper who terrorized southern Michigan motorists last summer.
The jury deliberated about 9 hours before finding Raulie Casteel, 44, of Wixom guilty in the nearly two dozen shootings, the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus reported. He faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced March 3, the newspaper said.
No one was seriously injured in the 23 shootings that took place in Oakland, Ingham, Shiawassee and Livingston counties.
Casteel testified during his trial he believed other motorists were part of a government conspiracy against him. He said he heard coded messages at Detroit Tigers baseball games and later shot at vehicles -- not to hurt anyone, but to get them to back off.
Casteel said he returned to Michigan in 2012 after losing his job in Indianapolis in 2009. He said he believed he was blacklisted from further employment and there was a conspiracy to harm his family. Casteel blamed the government for two miscarriages his wife had and skin rashes his 3-year-old daughter suffered, the Detroit News reported.
Casteel also faces sentencing in a related case in Oakland County, where he is expected to receive a prison term of 10 to 12 years after taking a plea deal.
