DES MOINES, Iowa -- The Iowa Court of Appeals has upheld the second-degree murder conviction of a man in the shooting death of a central Iowa sheep farmer.

Aron Moss was convicted in June 2008 of aiding in the shooting death of Michael "Shane'' Hill of Boone. He was killed in May 2007 on a farm near Ogden.

The first-degree murder trial for Hill's wife, Jessica, began Tuesday in Pottawattamie County, where it was moved because of pre-trial publicity. Her lover, Daniel Blair, was convicted of first-degree murder.

In his appeal, Moss claimed, among other issues, his counsel was ineffective for failing to raise a claim of insufficient evidence.

In Wednesday's ruling, the court says "there was considerable evidence, circumstantial or otherwise.''

A telephone call to Moss' attorney wasn't immediately returned.
   

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