Indianola man convicted of murder in Des Moines man's 2018 shooting death

A Des Moines man accused of shooting and killing a man in January of 2018 has been convicted of murder. 

A jury on Friday found 47-year-old William Burton guilty of second-degree murder, court records show. He could face up to 50 years in prison at his sentencing scheduled for Oct. 2.

Burton fatally shot 39-year-old Cory Lee Channon on Jan. 9, 2018, in Channon's northwest Des Moines home with the help of Crystal Raye Purdy, 37, after they went to  confront Channon about a gun Burton believed Channon stole from him, police said. 

Burton was the gunman and Purdy facilitated the shooting, authorities said; both were charged with first-degree murder after Channon was found dead at the scene with a gunshot wound to the chest.

After the shooting, Burton and Purdy, who police said were dating, fled the scene and called authorities about 30 minutes later. The couple met with police at a Wendy's restaurant on the south side and told detectives Channon was shot after a scuffle caused the gun to discharge, police have said. 

Investigators at the time, however, believed Burton and Purdy went to Channon's home and intentionally shot him with a handgun. Purdy was present during the shooting and helped dispose of evidence, according to a criminal complaint. 

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Burton's public defender, Thomas Gaul, in September filed a motion to enforce immunity, writing Burton told police Channon "jumped up from the couch he was sitting on in a threatening manner."

Burton fired the gun once at Channon, the filing read; then he called police. Burton had a valid conceal and carry permit and his handgun was licensed.

Gaul also said in the filing that because Burton thought Channon had a firearm, Burton's use of "deadly force" was reasonable. 

Gaul did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday regarding the jury's findings. 

Purdy, Burton's accomplice, was sentenced in October to 35 years in prison after she pleaded guilty in September to lesser charges of first-degree burglary, with a dangerous weapon enhancement, and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony.

A jury on May 24 found Burton guilty in an unrelated case of second degree robbery, which carries with it a maximum sentence of 10 years. Burton was charged with first-degree robbery after robbing a man of his phone and car at gunpoint in January of 2018, the day before he fatally shot Channon, police said.

Following the January shooting, Burton was ordered by a judge to "reside with his parents at their home in Warren County from which home all weapons of any nature whatsoever shall be removed," according to court documents.

In September, a probation officer conducted a home visit at Burton's home and found him in possession of two hunting bows and a crossbow, which was a violation of his pretrial release agreement, court records show.

Anna Spoerre covers crime and courts for the Des Moines Register. She can be contacted at aspoerre@dmreg.com, 515-284-8387 or on Twitter at @annaspoerre.

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