A man convicted of murdering his boss at a Clinton Township fencing company in 2018 was sentenced Thursday to life in prison.

Jerry D. Motley Jr., 32, received a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole from Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Matthew P. Sabaugh.

A jury in June found Motley guilty of the first-degree premeditated murder of Thomas Edward Badke. He was also convicted of going armed with a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent and two counts of felony firearm, authorities said.

Badke, 61, of Romeo, owned Reliable Fence company on Groesbeck Highway, near 15 Mile, and was Motley's boss, authorities said.

Investigators said the shooting appeared to stem from Motley's perception that he had been bullied by a co-worker.

Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido

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