After only three hours of deliberations, a jury on Monday convicted Howard Dean Jamison, 53, of first-degree murder in the 1989 fatal stabbing of Ewing Scroggs, 83, in his Pacific Beach home during a burglary. The seven-man, five-woman jury also found true a special circumstance charge that alleged the murder occurred during a residential burglary. This means Jamison faces a life term in prison without the possibility of parole. Sentencing is set for Oct. 27 by San Diego Superior Court Judge Laura Halgren. Jamison remains in custody without bail. The prosecution rested its case after one and a half weeks of testimony, while the defense rested without calling a single witness. Jamison’s attorney, Troy Britt, argued for acquittal, but conceded that his client had somehow been in the victim’s home because DNA evidence was linked to his client by investigators after 22 years. Deputy District Attorney Allison Worden said a stomped-out Marlboro cigarette butt was found in the victim’s bathroom. Jamison’s DNA was on that cigarette, which was carefully preserved by San Diego police. Worden put on evidence that Jamison lived as a transient in Pacific Beach in 1989. Britt maintained his client’s innocence during closing statements last week. “He is completely innocent of this offense,” Britt said. “A bigger tragedy would be to convict a man for a murder that he didn’t commit.” Worden said medical advances in DNA allowed for such a “cold case” to be solved. Jamison had been arrested before, which is why his DNA was on file, she said. Scroggs reportedly did not know Jamison, who lived in San Diego at the time. The house was found ransacked on Dec. 8, 1989. The victim’s pants pockets were turned inside out, and dresser drawers were pulled out. Scroggs’ wallet was found nearby, empty of cash and credit cards. Jay Sparks, an acquaintance of Jamison’s, testified Sept. 21 he was with Jamison in 1990 when Jamison made a startling admission following an argument. “I’m gonna kill you. I’ve done it before,” Sparks testified about what Jamison told him. Sparks said he didn’t know what to believe, but he got out of his chair at the time and left. Former neighbors of the victim testified that Scroggs was frail, thin and often bent over at times from arthritis. Retired paramedics and police officers testified during the trial.