A man arrested on murder charges in connection with a drug deal gone bad in 2008 has been convicted by a Carroll County jury and is awaiting sentencing.

Willie Deon Daniel, 22, of Carrollton was convicted of felony murder, aggravated assault and armed robbery last week in connection with the fatal shooting of Clarence McGhee, 26, of Atlanta on May 18, 2008, according to authorities.

Carroll County Superior Court Judge John Simpson presided over the trial.

Carroll County sheriff’s Capt. Shane Taylor said Daniel, who was represented by Carroll County public defender John Howe, and Lorenzo Helton, 17, of Carrollton, were both arrested and charged with murder, aggravated assault and armed robbery after the two allegedly teamed up to rob McGhee and his girlfriend, Penny Parham, 27, of Adairsville.

Authorities said Parham has ties to the Roopville community.

A third man, Christopher Barber, 23, of Carrollton, allegedly arranged for the couple through a telephone call to meet that night on Henson Circle to sell approximately a pound of marijuana, sheriff’s investigators said.

Taylor said when the couple arrived around 11:35 p.m., Daniel and Helton were allegedly hiding in the dark waiting to rob the couple, who believed they were there for the drug transaction.

When the car Parham and McGhee were in pulled up on the street, Taylor said, Helton and McGhee confronted the couple, robbing them before multiple shots were fired, striking McGhee in the back.

Taylor said Daniel and Helton allegedly left with the couple’s marijuana and at least one cell phone.

“This was a drug deal that had gone bad and turned deadly,” he said. “The investigation showed the apparent robbery was set up to make it look like a drug transaction.”

Taylor said deputies received two 911 calls, including one by a caller who heard shots fired in the neighborhood and a second by a staff member at Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton reporting a man had come into the emergency room with a gunshot wound.

Deputies said McGhee was pronounced dead at the hospital later that night.

Barber and Parham were both charged with conspiracy of possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute.

Authorities said Barber testified in court against Daniel in the case prosecuted by Carroll County Assistant District Attorney John Caldwell. The jury dismissed one count of malice murder against Daniel before finding him guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault and armed robbery.

Helton’s case is still pending, and Daniel is awaiting sentencing.

“The Sheriff’s Office was pleased with last week’s verdict and believes the verdict is just and deserving,” Taylor said. “Now the other defendant’s case can move forward.”

Howe could not be reached for comment Tuesday.