Conviction upheld in attack on 82-year-old woman

Associated Press - November 3, 2009 4:14 PM ET

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The state Court of Appeals has upheld the 2007 conviction of Joe Lee Brunner for beating an elderly woman during a 2006 robbery.

Brunner was sentenced to 180 years in Hinds County on four counts related to the attack on 82-year-old Lorea May.

Authorities say Brunner beat May with a pipe after breaking into her home.

Brunner was sentenced to 50 years for house burglary, 40 years for aggravated assault, 80 years for armed robbery and 10 years for auto theft. The prison terms were to be served consecutively.

The Appeals Court on Tuesday rejected Brunner's claim that the evidence did not support his conviction.