<p>A man convicted of murdering an Augusta woman and accused of raping and killing three others was sentenced to death Monday.</p><p>Reinaldo Rivera, 40, of North Augusta, S.C., showed no emotion when the Superior Court jury returned its verdict after more than eight hours of deliberation.</p><p>Judge Judge Albert M. Pickett set Riveras execution for between March 3 and 9, but an appeal to the state Supreme Court is automatic. When Pickett asked Rivera if he had anything to say, he said only: Im sorry.</p><p>On Saturday, Rivera asked the jurors to sentence him to die.</p><p>I took the lives of so many people. By God, the right decision for you to make is to give me the death penalty, Rivera said during the sentencing phase of his trial.</p><p>The same jury convicted Rivera on Friday of 14 counts in the fatal Sept. 4, 2000, attack on Fort Gordon soldier Sgt. Marni M. Glista, 21, and an Oct. 10, 2000, assault on Chrisilee Barton.</p><p>Rivera, of North Augusta, S.C., said that given the chance, he would likely kill again.</p><p>I still fantasize about hurting the same girls that I killed, he testified.</p><p>Defense attorneys tried to talk Rivera out of requesting the death penalty Saturday, calling six witnesses to the stand to ask the jury for other options of life in prison with or without parole.</p><p>Riveras sister, Gloria Rivera, testified that she found it impossible to believe the child she grew up with and man who would read bedtime stories for his own children was capable of such acts.</p><p>Theres no way hes evil; he has to be sick, she said.</p><p>Meanwhile, prosecutors called three witnesses to advocate the death penalty, including Glistas mother Gloria Perius.</p><p>I gave birth to Marni, and I sat by her side when she drew her last breath, Perius said.</p><p>Time will never erase the pain her family endured as they maintained a vigil by her daughters hospital bed before doctors disconnected the life support and Glista died on Sept. 9, 2000, said Perius, who traveled from Seattle to attend the trial with other relatives.</p><p>After the sentencing, she said: Ive waited for 3 1/2 years for this, and I am just so thankful that the jurors saw to it to bring justice.</p><p>Regardless of the sentence, District Attorney Danny Craig had said he likely would pursue capital murder charges in Columbia County, where another of Riveras alleged victims, 18-year-old Tabitha Bosdell, was found.</p><p>Rivera also is accused in the 1999 slayings of Melissa Dingess and Tiffaney Wilson, both 17, in Aiken County, S.C.</p>
