CASPER — Photos of a dented lampshade, a clasp from a Carhartt jacket and a victim lying alongside a bed in a local motel were part of the first day of a trial of a 44-year-old homeless man charged with second-degree murder.
James Franklin Mavigliano sat beside his defense team in a black striped suit, his shoulder-length black hair slicked back as the Natrona County District Attorney team started to lay out its evidence in Natrona County District Court on Monday.
Mavigliano is on trial for the March 5 killing of another man at a Casper motel.
The day after he was arrested, he blurted out to a judge during a hearing on a probation violation in Casper Circuit Court that he had committed the act.
“I killed somebody last night for protecting a woman,” he told the judge. “I place God’s mercy on you all, and don’t judge.”
Facing the murder charge and with counsel from a public defender’s office, Mavigliano subsequently pleaded not guilty to the crime.
Man Found Dead
On Monday, jurors heard afternoon testimony from the owners of the Topper Motel in the 700 block of East A Street and police officers who responded there on March 5.
They found Chance Arias, 28, dead and lying partially clothed next to a bed in his second-floor room.
Hotel owner Brad Tennant testified he had tried to contact Arias about an open window in his room as well as violations of the motel’s policy about overnight guests in his room. After initial calls to the room and knocks at the door were unsuccessful, Tennant left and returned to find the room unlocked. He discovered Arias on the floor and called police.
Tennant said he initially thought he had passed out.
Photos Introduced
Under questioning by District Attorney Dan Itzen, Michael Graham, a Casper Police Department officer and evidence technician, explained a series of photos from the motel’s Room 20 after police were called there about an unresponsive male.
Graham testified evidence at the scene showed a potential struggle. There was a blood-stained black pillowcase and blood stains on a bed sheet, curtain and a lampshade. The lampshade also was dented.
Some items appeared to be knocked on the floor. A broken lamp bulb was found at the feet of the victim.
“Anytime we find broken pieces of anything, it is something we are going to look into,” he testified.
Clothing was also draped over the victim, who was wearing a T-shirt and shorts. Photos of the victim shown in court revealed blood around his mouth and bruising of his left eye as well as “pattern marks” around his neck.
“Any type of ligature used around the neck would cause a bruising pattern,” Graham said.
Testimony from former Casper Police Department officer Colby Fowles revealed that the motel video cameras caught a man and a woman entering and leaving Arias’ room. The man was later identified as Mavigliano.
An arrest affidavit in the case alleges that Arias began accusing Mavigliano of being loud and creating a disturbance. In an interview with Casper police, police said Mavigliano told them that he thought Arias was going to punch him, so he struck him in the face with his right fist and continued to punch him and both fell onto the bed.
“Arias continued to struggle, and Mavigliano obtained a lamp and struck Arias in the head and face area with the lamp,” the affidavit states. In the affidavit, Mavigliano allegedly told police he used the lamp cord to wrap it around Arias’ neck.
Arrested With Key
Fowles testified an officer had found him about seven blocks away carrying a blue duffle bag. Fowles went to the scene and arrested Mavigliano. In his pocket was a key to the motel room. The key was introduced by Itzen as evidence on Monday.
Fowles also testified there were blood stains on Mavigliano’s hands.
The trial is expected to continue for much of the week. The district attorney’s office has listed 23 witnesses as part of the case.
Second-degree murder carries a potential penalty of 20 years to life in prison.
Mavigliano is also charged with possession of a controlled substance - methamphetamine.
Fowles told the courtroom Monday that Mavigliano had a pipe on his person during his arrest that had traces of methamphetamine. The pipe was introduced as evidence.
The possession charge is a misdemeanor and carries a penalty of up to 12 months in jail and a fine of not more than $1,000.
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
