A jury late Thursday found Roderick Ellis guilty as charged for a kidnapping and assault that led to an 11-hour standoff at the Motel Six in St. Joseph.

The jury deliberated for about five yours before returning guilty verdicts on five counts.  The most serious of the charges, 1st degree domestic assault and 1st degree assault of a law enforcement officer, each carries a maximum sentence of 10 to 30 years or life in prison.

The jury will not recommend a sentence.  Circuit Judge Patrick Robb will sentence the defendant January 9 after ruling that Ellis is a prior felony offender.

As we reported earlier, Ellis was accused of kidnapping his former girlfriend Rebecca Urban on October 14, 2015.  Urban testified during the trial that she had ended an affair with Ellis, but that he then began threatening her.  Urban said Ellis ambushed her at work, forced her at gunpoint to drive to the motel, and then, when she cried for help, shooting her in the arm in front of motel staff.

Investigators said he then forced the woman into a room at the motel and barricaded the door.  During the following 11 hours, shots were fired at law officers attempting to end the standoff.

The incident prompted evacuations and lockdowns, forcing the closure of I-29, Frederick Ave., and several businesses in the area.

The jury was selected from a pool in Clay County because widespread publicity of the case prompted a change of venue.  They began deliberations shortly after 4:30 p.m. Thursday, and returned the verdict at about 9:30.

The defense team called the case one of “love and betrayal.”  Public Defender Susan Rinne told the panel Ellis never intended to hurt anyone.  She said Ellis suspected urban of being unfaithful.

Ellis was convicted on charges of 1st degree domestic assault, 1st degree assault of a law enforcement officer, kidnapping, and two counts of armed criminal action.