Photo by Gene Dalton | The Roanoke Times

Radford photographer Bob Shell was convicted of involuntary manslaughter today in the death of model Marion Franklin.

After deliberating for 12 1/2 hours, a jury found Radford photographer Bob Shell guilty of involuntary manslaughter today in the 2003 death of model Marion Franklin. The jury recommended tonight that Shell be sentenced to 32 years and six months in prison, and be fined $5,000, on the involuntary manslaughter charge and seven others. He will be formally sentenced on Oct. 26. Shell was led from the courtroom tonight in handcuffs.

Shell, 60, was also found guilty on the seven other related counts.

Shell now faces a minimum of six years in prison and a maximum of 131 years on the charges: involuntary manslaughter; two counts of distributing morphine; possession of morphine; distributing diazepam; two counts of attempted animate object penetration; and one count of attempted forcible sodomy.

Shell had been charged with felony homicide, but the jury had the option of convicting him of involuntary manslaughter.

The verdicts were read shortly before 3:30 this afternoon. Shell showed no reaction, standing and staring. Some others in the courtroom, including prosecutor Chris Rehak, began to cry.

Shell's trial, delayed numerous times since he was charged more than four years ago, included eight days of testimony.

Franklin, 19 at the time of her death, modeled for Shell, including doing bondage shoots and photos. Hours of explicit photos and videos were shown to the jury over the past few days.

Shell's lawyer, Jonathon Venzie, argued that Franklin was a regular drug user and Shell's lover, who caused her own death through her own behavior.

But Rehak argued that Shell was infatuated with Franklin, so much so that he found a way to take advantage of her -- and that caused her death.

The jury was being instructed on sentencing after the verdicts were read, and is expected to make its recommendation today.