Hughes Convicted of First-Degree Murder, Could Face 27 Years in Prison

A Stafford County jury convicted William Hughes of first-degree murder Thursday and recommended he serve 27 years in prison.

William Hughes, 45, was charged with first-degree murder of 31-year-old Jason Shane Plaster in June 2007. Plaster’s remains were recovered last March at 881 Belle Plains Road in south Stafford on property that belongs to a co-defendant in the case, Dennis Paul Benzie. 

Benzie alerted Stafford Detective Sgt. Christ Cameron to the 2007 slaying when he was arrested on drug and firearms charges. He testified against hughes and received a deal in which he will not be charged with murder, though he still faces drug charges, the The Free Lance-Star reports.

Benzie and another co-defendant, Stuart Lee Sullivan Jr., testified that Hughes shot Plaster with a Derringer handgun and Sullivan followed with several shots from a 9mm pistol. Sullivan pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and has a sentencing scheduled for Sept. 25.

Hughes was reportedly upset with Plaster for exposing himself to Hughes’ wife and allegedly attempting to have sex with their daughter. 

The jury’s decision arrived on the fourth day of Hughes’ trial in Stafford Circuit Court. The jury recommended Hughes serve 27 years in prison. He will be formally sentenced by Judge Michael Levy on Oct. 1.

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