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WOODLAND, CA (BRAIN)—Tree trimmer and convicted felon Charles Kevin Cunningham has been sentenced to 31 years, four months to life for the murder of John Finley Scott.

Cunningham, 48, was found guilty of first-degree murder and grand theft on Oct. 23.

Scott is best known in mountain biking circles for his 1950s interpretation of a mountain bike called the "woodsie bike." He was among the first in the United States to make a sport out of bombing down mountains on a bicycle, according to many cycling historians. Scott was recently featured in Billy Savage's mountain biking film "Klunkerz."

"Finley was man who was way ahead of his time, in many regards," Savage said. "He was a cycling advocate long before there were 'bicycle coalitions' in most cities. He pushed for bike lanes and better planning for bicycle routes. Finley was a rugged individualist who did things his own way. He was a true original. He is greatly missed. It's about time Finley gets in the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame."

Check out the January issue of Bicycle Retailer and Industry News for a profile of John Finley Scott.

—Jason Norman