Tracey Maynard Bradley

Tracey Maynard Bradley will spend life in prison without a chance of parole -- and given prison time beyond that -- for the May 24, 2010, murder and robbery of an elderly man at a Motel 6 on Arsenal Road in Manchester Township.

A jury in September found the 48-year-old guilty of first-degree murder, burglary, theft, receiving stolen property and stealing a vehicle.

The life sentence was handed down for the murder and, though it comes with no chance of parole, Common Pleas Judge Gregory M. Snyder said during sentencing Monday morning that he wasn't taking any chances.

While the defense contended the 13.5 to 27 years Snyder sentenced Bradley for the robbery and theft-related charges was "superfluous," Snyder said Bradley is a danger to society and he wants him to continue serving time if lawmakers ever decide to offer parole to people convicted of first-degree murder.

Bradley's court appearances have been characterized by some unexpected behavior, including his smiling at sheriff's deputies after being found guilty. On Monday, he tore up a copy of appeal procedures Snyder had given to him and his attorney.

Defense attorney Kevin Hoffman said he will appeal the verdict, primarily because Bradley maintains jurors never should have been allowed to watch his videotaped confession.

Bradley unsuccessfully sought to have the tape suppressed from trial, arguing police should have stopped questioning him when he asked for an attorney.

The tape: Bradley was homeless and was staying at the Motel 6 with his wife and adult stepdaughter at the time of the murder.

Jurors in the trial saw Bradley's three-hour videotaped confession, during which he told Northern York County Regional Police he went into the room of fellow motel guest Lee Choppin to rob him and put the 72-year-old man in a "sleeper hold" until Chopping stopped struggling.

Choppin, of Roanoke, Va., was found dead in his motel room on May 26, 2010, but trial testimony revealed Bradley killed him about 7:45 a.m. May 24, 2010.

-- Staff writer Liz Evans Scolforo contrib uted to this report. Reach Christina Kauffman at ckauffman@yorkdispatch.com.