Man convicted in 2004 killing of deputy

Article published Jun 5, 2007
Jun 5, 2007

The Associated Press
A Fort Lauderdale man was found guilty Tuesday in the killing of one Broward Sheriff's Office deputy and the wounding of another.

Jurors deliberated for nearly four days before finding Kenneth Wilk, 45, guilty of first-degree murder, second degree-attempted murder, child pornography and obstruction of justice.

The panel of eight women and four men rejected defense claims that Wilk was suffering from AIDS-related dementia when he gunned down the officers. Wilk took the stand during trial and testified that he thought the deputies were intruders.

The trial's sentencing phase is to begin Thursday, when Wilk stands to become the first person in South Florida to be given the death penalty since it was reactivated by Congress in 1998.

Deputy Todd Fata was shot and killed Aug. 19, 2004, while serving a warrant to Wilk on child pornography charges. Wilk used a high-powered hunting rifle with a bullet that pierced the officer's protective vest.

A second deputy, Angel Cedeno, was shot in the hand and lost a finger.

"Justice was done," said Fata's mother, Josephine Fata.

Wilk's attorney, Bill Matthewman, declined comment until the penalty phase has ended.