Adam Saleh today received the maximum sentence of 38 years to life in prison after a jury found him guilty of the murder of Reynoldsburg model Julie Popovich.

The judge called Saleh a "shark" who might prey on other women if he is ever released. He also order that Saleh, 20, be labeled a sexual predator.

"Today we received justice for Julie because a very dangerous man is being removed from society," said Popovich's mother, Peggy White. "But I encourage young women to beware of the predators because they are out there waiting."

The jury of six men and six women found Saleh, an auto mechanic, guilty of murder, attempted rape, kidnapping and tampering with evidence for the 2005 slaying of the 20-year-old Popovich.

They acquitted him of aggravated murder charges, sparing him a possible prison sentence of life without parole. Jurors deliberated about seven hours over two days.

The jury told Assistant County Prosecutors James Lowe and Daniel Hawkins afterward that they didn't think Saleh intended to kill Popovich, as one inmate had testified.

"They said they believed that he choked her, but he wasn't trying to kill her," Lowe said. "The testimony was that he tried to make her pass out and then he realized she was dead."

"Only God can judge me," Saleh told Hogan before he was sentenced.

Hogan told Saleh: "I have come to the conclusion that you, sir, are a shark and I hope the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction never lets you out, because I am convinced that once you are out you will find a way to behave the same way again."

Among their alleged "protection" activities was escorting a load of heroin from Miami Beach and delivering $1 million in supposedly stolen diamonds to Atlantic City, N.J., documents say.

Hollywood Police Chief James Scarberry said last week that he expected all four to plead guilty.

Telephone messages left for Edward Stamm, the assistant U.S. attorney handling the case; attorneys for the men; and Hollywood police were not returned Wednesday evening.

Companion and Harrison face 10 years to life in prison. They remain free on bond until their sentencing July 20.

William Phillips, 60, took a revolver to work at the Johnson Space Center on Friday and shot dead fellow employee David Beverly, 62. Phillips bought the gun on the same day last month that he printed off the bad review, police said.

A woman was also held hostage in a four hour ordeal but was only slightly hurt.

Nasa said Phillips, a contract engineer, had been employed for about 12 years, was unmarried, had no children and reportedly lived on his own.

Security review

Nasa officials said Phillips brought the revolver into a building that houses communication systems for the space shuttle. Phillips confronted Beverly, a quality-control engineer, about the review and despite attempts by his victim to calm him, shot him twice. The stand-off took place in the communications Building 44

Phillips left the room briefly but later returned and shot Beverly another two times as he tried to resist, police said.

"The suspect blamed Mr Beverly for being responsible for his negative job-performance situation," Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt said.

Nasa said the woman hostage, Fran Crenshaw, was tied to a chair for hours and succeeded in providing a calming influence, preventing the situation from getting worse. Phillips held her hostage until he shot himself dead.

Nasa says it is undertaking a review of security procedures. It evacuated some employees in the building when the situation occurred while others were ordered to stay in their offices.

The Johnson Space Center contains Nasa's mission control, which oversees the agency's space flights.

Doors to mission control were locked and outlying roads cordoned off.

The stand-off came less than a week after a gunman killed 32 students and teaching staff at Virginia Tech university before killing himself.

There has been a rash of security alerts across the US, which is also marking the eighth anniversary of the Columbine school massacre in which 15 people died.

Naval Base Kitsap's former top enlisted man pleaded guilty Thursday to attempted rape.

Kitsap County prosecutors will recommend a 90-month sentence for Edward E. Scott, 43, and his defense attorney may ask for a sentencing alternative, including treatment. He entered his plea in Kitsap County Superior Court.

Scott was arrested March 16 upon entering a Bremerton motel where an Internet chat had led him to expect he would have sex with 12-year-old twins and their mother, police reports said. The "mother" was an undercover officer.

Scott, who was a Navy command master chief at the time of his arrest, told detectives that he had an addiction to online chat rooms and was getting back at his wife over marital issues.

Authorities identify the gunman suspected of killing 32 people at Virginia Tech as 23-year-old Cho Seung-Hui, an English major who has lived in the United States since immigrating from South Korea in 1992.  He had a Centreville, Virginia address and was a resident of VT's Harper Hall.

Police recovered two handguns, a nine millimeter and a 22 caliber.  Police say ballistics tests shows that one of the guns found with Cho Seung-Hui was used at the shootings in Ambler Johnston Dormitory and Norris Hall.

Steve Flaherty, with the Virginia State Police said, "The evidence has not led us to say with all certainty that the same shooter was involved" in both places.  However he said did not have evidence that there was another shooter.

Bucks County Judge Kenneth Biehn complied, accepting Flor's plea and sentencing him to seven to 20 years in prison. It seemed a moot point because Flor, 39, is on death row for the Sept. 29, 2005, slaying of Newtown police Officer Brian Gregg.

But Miles, who suffered a broken finger and two black eyes during the beating, deserved justice, Biehn said. The courtroom was dark and silent as Chief Deputy District Attorney Gary Gambardella played a tape of the attack, captured via a video camera mounted on the wall in Flor's cell block.

The video shows Flor battering Miles, knocking him to the floor. When Miles got to his feet, Flor continued to push him and knock him down again. Another inmate, Timothy Heidelmark, blocked another officer who tried to help.

The attack was broken up when other corrections officers stormed the cell block. Miles was out of work for six weeks as a result of the assault.

Peter Hall, Flor's attorney, told Biehn that Flor did not want to endure any more legal proceedings, saying his client "didn't want to have any reason to return to Bucks County Court."