Jury convicts man in 2014 Butte machete murder

WASILLA — A Palmer jury on Friday convicted a 23-year-old man in the 2014 killing of 81-year-old Butte area berry farmer Steven Garcia.

During the trial, lawyers for Thomas M. Cottam Jr. tried to argue he killed Garcia in self defense. However, the jury didn’t buy those claims and convicted Cottam of first-degree murder and vehicle theft, according to a press release issued by Alaska State Troopers.

Cottam was arrested after turning himself in to Anchorage police about three hours after Garcia’s death on May 18, 2014. He claimed he arrived at Garcia’s home and was confronted by the older man, who had a machete. Cottam said he “blacked out” and that when he came to he was standing over Garcia’s body and holding the weapon.

Cottam told troopers he then dug into Garcia’s pants, stole the man’s wallet and drove to Anchorage in Garcia’s vehicle.

Friends said Garcia was known as a charitable man who liked to help others. It was apparently that generosity that led him to pick up Cottam while the younger man was hitchhiking about two weeks before the murder. Cottam had been sleeping on Garcia’s couch when the incident occurred.

During opening arguments in the case last week, prosecutor Roman Kalytiak argued Garcia was a frail man and that the self-defense argument didn’t hold up.

Garcia wore a back brace, he said, dealt with circulation issues, and suffered from a reduction in stamina and strength brought on by old age. Those conditions made working at the farm difficult, he said, which may be what led him to pick up Cottam.

Public defender Elizabeth Varela argued Garcia was a possessive man who was angry with Cottam for leaving the farm when he initiated the attack that led to his death.

Sentencing will be held at a later date. Cottam faces 20 years to life in prison for his crimes.