Preacher jailed for life over rancher's murder

updated 4:14 a.m. ET Dec. 13, 2008

MODESTO, Calif. - A country preacher will serve a life sentence without parole for the murder of an elderly man who had entrusted him with his life savings.

A Stanislaus County Superior Court judge also sentenced Howard Porter on Friday to 12 years to life for an earlier attempt on the life of 85-year-old Frank Craig, as well as five years for theft. The sentences will run consecutively.

Porter was pastor of Hickman Community Church when he befriended the elderly man, who eventually asked Porter to help him build an agricultural museum with his life savings.

A jury convicted Porter in August of murdering Craig in a car crash to cover up the embezzlement of $1.1 million.

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