A Centre County man will spend the rest of his life in prison after a jury found him guilty of killing a man during an argument over $20 worth of marijuana.

A jury found 21-year-old Tyler Marlatt guilty of second degree murder for the death of 20 –year-old Tyler Struble at a home in Lemont back in January.

Investigators said Marlatt killed Struble during an argument that started over $20 worth of marijuana. They said Marlatt's girlfriend, Fatima Ghoul, sold the drugs to Struble in State College but Struble drove off without paying.

After that, Marlatt and Ghoul confronted Stuble at a home in Lemont, where the situation escalated and a fight broke out between the two men. Marlatt stabbed Struble four times, including once in the neck. Struble died in the backyard of the home.

Marlatt argued that he acted in self-defense and said Struble was the one attacking him. But the jury disagreed and found him guilty of second-degree murder and 12 other charges. The jury found him not guilty of first-degree murder, which means the murder was not premeditated.

Marlatt's attorney told 6 News that the case deals with a culture of drugs, a culture that is difficult for many people to truly understand.  

Ed Blanarik, defense attorney, said, “It’s a very difficult case to understand for jurors and I think for most of the attorneys. It’s something completely foreign to common everyday people who sit as jurors.”

When the guilty verdict came down for Marlatt, it was very emotional in the courtroom and members of both men’s families cried.

Struble spoke in open court to their son's killer, telling Marlatt about the heartaches he's caused everyone in the courtroom.

Marlatt replied simply, “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. I really am sorry."

Ghoul, Marlatt's girlfriend, pleaded guilty in October to drug and robbery charges.