<p>A former Lock Haven University football player was convicted of murder Thursday in the beating death of the older brother of Olympic wrestler Sara McMann almost six years ago.</p><p>Fabian Desmond Smart, of Clyo, Ga., a former free safety for the Bald Eagles, was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping and two counts of conspiracy in the death of 21-year-old Jason McMann in January 1999.</p><p>Smart faces either life in prison without parole or a death sentence, with the penalty phase of the trial scheduled to begin Tuesday.</p><p>"I don't want to comment too much, because we're still in the middle of this trial, and I don't want to do something that jeopardizes it, but we're very pleased with the verdict of the jury at this point in time, and we look forward to presenting the penalty phase," Clinton County District Attorney Ted McKnight said.</p><p>Smart did not react to the verdict, but touched his fingers twice to his heart and mouthed the words "I'll be all right" to about a dozen family members, who also sat stoically during the decision, according to The Express of Lock Haven.</p><p>Calls to the offices of defense attorneys Ron Travis and Eric Linhardt were not answered Thursday afternoon.</p><p>McMann's family celebrated, exchanging hugs inside the courtroom, then gathered with friends on the steps outside. Nickolina McMann, the sister of Jason and Sara, told Sara of the verdict via cell phone. "He's guilty of everything," Nickolina McMann said.</p><p>"Justice _ finally," said Marva Heichel, a family friend. "This is the day we've been waiting for."</p><p>Police said Jason McMann fought with Smart the night of Jan. 22, 1999, and was beaten unconscious. Smart and another man then drove McMann into a remote area of Clinton County, where Smart tried to shoot McMann, police said. When the gun misfired, Smart beat McMann with the gun and with a large stick, then left him to die, they said. McMann's body was found three months later.</p><p>Jurors reached a verdict more than nine hours after deliberations began Wednesday night.</p><p>Last month Sara McMann, who won a silver medal at the Athens Olympics in the 138 1/2-pound class, was charged with careless driving causing death after a crash that killed her boyfriend, Steven Blackford, 28, himself a three-time NCAA All-American wrestler at Arizona State.</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x28658e8)</p>
