Crime

Man Gets 125 Years For Stealing Gun Used in Murder — About a Century Longer Than Actual Killers

Christopher G. Nichols Gets 125 Years For Stealing Gun Used in Murder About a Century Longer Than Actual Killers

Christopher G. Nichols (Source: Huffington Post/Washington State Department of Corrections)

(TheBlaze/AP) — A man convicted of stealing a gun used in a murder was given 125 years in prison — about a century longer than the actual killers received after taking plea deals.

Christopher G. Nichols, 27, was sentenced Tuesday for gun theft, trafficking in stolen property, being a felon in possession of firearms and other crimes, The Spokesman-Review reported.

Prosecutor Tim Rasmussen said sentences for the gun crimes must be served one after another, as a result of Washington’s 1995 law known as Hard Time for Armed Crime.

Nichols and his lawyer took the case to trial after turning down a plea deal that could have reduced his sentence by about 100 years.

Nichols, who had no role in the 2011 killing of Colville resident Gordon Feist, wept as the sentence was read, Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen defended the sentence, saying the burglary was “the root of this violent and senseless killing of Mr. Feist, who was acting as a good Samaritan when he was killed.

“This law has been upheld many times in appellate court,” Rasmussen said. “It represents a decision by the Legislature to strike at the root of violent crime.”

The crime that netted Nichols what amounts to a life sentence began on June 28, 2011, when he and Eric L. Booth, 26, broke into a home in Stevens County and stole a safe containing several firearms.

Booth then planned a ruse with 27-year-old Jesse J. Fellman-Shimmin and 25-year-old Collette M. Pierce to burglarize the home of Feist, 63, who served three tours in Vietnam as a Navy SEAL.

They pretended they had run out of gas, and Feist agreed to help. Feist was driving the suspects back to their car with gas when Booth shot him in the head using one of the stolen guns.

All three later reached plea agreements for their roles in the killing and testified against Nichols.

Stevens County Superior Court Judge Pat Monasmith previously sentenced Fellman-Shimmin to 25 years in prison for second-degree murder; Booth was given 26 1/2 years for first-degree murder; and the judge gave Pierce 15 years for second-degree murder.

Rasmussen said Monasmith discussed some reservations about the length of Nichols’ sentence compared to those actually convicted of murder, but eventually the judge ruled that Nichols was aware of the seriousness of a felon stealing and possessing guns. He also mentioned that Nichols committed the gun theft less than two years after getting out of prison where he served a seven-year sentence for similar crimes.

Rasmussen said he believed Nichols’ sentence of 125 years was one of the longest sentences ever handed down for a non-murder conviction.

“Without the burglary of these firearms, this killing would not have occurred,” he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Comments (69)

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  • mayihelpyou
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 10:47pm

    The others should’ve gotten longer sentences. The one who pulled the trigger executed. I don’t feel sorry for this POS, it was just a matter of time before he killed someone.

    Report Post »  
    • armyofnibiru
      Posted on August 2, 2012 at 2:05pm

      did booth who helped him steel the guns not face the same theft charges as this guy,plus murder should put him in jail longer.thats the power of snitch i guess.

      Report Post »  
  • dadadadio
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:12pm

    Logical. A guy runs over someone with his car, the car dealer goes to prison. Or if a guy buys a kitchen knife at a garage sale and kills someone, the old lady who had the sale gets put away for life. I mean, both should have known what could have happened. This sentence makes no sense whatsoever, I hope someone takes up his case on appeal.

    Report Post » dadadadio  
  • blackyb
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:38pm

    They want a revolving door, all those lawyers, judges, and court workers have job security.

    Report Post » blackyb  
  • Everett Bennett Jr
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:09pm

    Rule of Law vs Rule of Men, Holder gets off the murder of the ATF agents. – This is “Rule of Men”.

    Report Post » Everett Bennett Jr  
    • Raider1
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:07pm

      Thats exactly what is going on here!! This is how the liberal progressive mind works. Use murderers to turn states evidence against a theft. It’s un F**KIN* believable!!!!!!!. This is pure abuse of power. Sooner or later they are going to push us too far…

      Report Post » Raider1  
  • Everett Bennett Jr
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:08pm

    The same logic could be used and applied to someone who bought a gun and then sold it to an individual. Later if that individual committed a crime, e.g., murder, you could get time because you sold the gun. If you didn’t sale the gun, the murder would not have occurred. Create some more logic, about the car that the thugs used to pull the ruse. Maybe they should go after the car maker and say if they did not make the car, the man would still be alive.

    Report Post » Everett Bennett Jr  
    • nzkiwi
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:44pm

      Sorry Everett. The reply that I made to Whitefield was meant for you. I’m having one of those days.

      Report Post »  
    • nzkiwi
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:58pm

      I went away and got my facts, prepared the response, and accidentally dropped it in the wrong place.

      D’oh.

      Report Post »  
    • ENIGMA28724
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:11pm

      I disagree. The difference is the sale of a legally obtained gun to an individual in most states is a legal transaction, whereas the theft and sale of one to be used in a crime is not.

      Report Post »  
    • armyofnibiru
      Posted on August 2, 2012 at 2:09pm

      and if they did’nt have the gun these dirtbags would have knifed this guy.

      Report Post »  
  • Flyingfish
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 6:59pm

    Neither plea bargining and mandatory sentensing should be allowed. String up the murderers and put this dumby in “pound you in the a$s” Federal Prison for 5 years.

    Report Post » Flyingfish  
  • Patriot Z
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 6:19pm

    aside from the killers gettng only 25, i have no problem with that sentence

    Report Post » Patriot Z  
    • LostInTheSpin
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 10:31pm

      So, it doesn’t bother you in the least that the taxpayers will be footing the bill for this? I love how some conservatives like to pick and choose what taxpayers should or should not be paying out the nose for.

      Report Post » LostInTheSpin  
    • Irishtech
      Posted on August 2, 2012 at 9:46am

      My only problem with paying for prison is how many luxuries they get. no such thing as hard time any more. another difference is that my tax money keeps these idiots behind bars, but my tax money going to welfare keeps them on the streets and they will end up breaking into my house or truck. you want to stop crime? prisons with no ac or heat, only slop to eat, and no tv. give them books to read. no gym or weight room. they use a sledge hammer and turn big rocks into little rocks. or use a shovel and move dirt from here to there and back again.

      Report Post » Irishtech  
  • whitefield
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 6:17pm

    Huge problem here. Premeditated murder was the “big” crime here and only got 26 years?!?! I don’t care that a felon got 125 years for committing yet another felony. He deserves more than that. The killers though, they’re getting off easy. Far easier than they deserve. They are predators. The killers murded a man who had proven good intent towards them. Screw them. Execute them. They deserve to be put down like rabid animals. This disgusts me because they aren’t being treated like the monsters they are.

    Report Post » whitefield  
    • nzkiwi
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:42pm

      @ Whitefield

      I also have considerable disquiet over this. He should have gone to jail but this sentance, whether one compares it to the other sentences or not, is manifestly unjust.

      Some facts for you:

      1. Three “strikes” and you get life in jail, even for trivial crimes. Leandro Andrade is serving 2 consecutive life sentences for shoplifting 9 video tapes with a value of $153
      2a. 1% of Americans are in jail (2.3million).
      2b On a per capita bases this equates to twice as many in South Africans, more than 3 times Iran, and 6 times China’s prison population.
      3. No society in history has imprisoned as many people as America.
      4. 1 in 30 men aged 20 – 34 in in prison.
      5.1 in 9 black males are in prison.
      6. There are more 17 year old black males in prison than in college.
      7. 5% of the world are American, but 25% of all prisoners are American.
      8a. America prohibits importing goods made through forced labor or prisoners, and yet American prisons produce 100% of all military helmets, ammunition belts, bullet proof vests.
      8b. Prisons produce 93% of domestically used paints, 36% of home appliances, 21% of office furniture.
      8c. You get solitary confinement if you refuse to work. This does not help other manufacturers.

      I am not suggesting that laws should be relaxed, but perhaps penalties should be reviewed and should fit the crime. How many people are getting their lives crushed by the system, I wonder. And how many others care?

      Report Post »  
    • nzkiwi
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:54pm

      Before people start to cane me, read this:

      http://lewrockwell.com/whitehead/whitehead42.1.html

      The stats are different from mine, because the measurement parameters are different. The message is the same.

      Report Post »  
    • nzkiwi
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:08pm

      Here is the Andrade story.

      http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/10/28/60ii/main527248.shtml

      Report Post »  
    • armyofnibiru
      Posted on August 2, 2012 at 2:29pm

      this is like the story i read 10 years ago.where a guy who smuggled some drugs went to jail for life,and the guy in the cell next to him was serving 3 yrs for child molesting,he got out ,2 months later he was back in for same thing,but for 7 yrs.got out ,6 months later he was back in.this time he murdered 2 children to try and hide his crimes( who knows how many he did not get caught for) before he got life.how is that justice.the guy should have been offed for the first child.

      Report Post »  
  • Jim
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 6:16pm

    Hard sentences for gun crimes, YES. Gun control for law abiding people, NO.

    Report Post » Jim  
    • ENIGMA28724
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:07pm

      That’s the way the system should work, except the actual murderers should have gotten 125 years as well. “If you can’t serve the time, don’t do the crime” . He was the one who turned down the plea bargain. I have no sympathy for any of them. Let them rot in jail. They murdered a good man who was trying to help them.

      Report Post »  
  • Too_Far_Gone
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:51pm

    He’s white ..

    Report Post » Too_Far_Gone  
  • scrapadapolis
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:38pm

    Does America want real justice.A pappilion island could be the perfect place.And the only expense needed for the first 4 years would be transport to the island.and dont stock it either no food nothing.When they have to work for what they need or kill for it another opening for another inmate becomes available

    Report Post » scrapadapolis  
  • Altair
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:37pm

    The jerk was a previously convicted felon who possessed a gun.

    He stole the gun he possessed.

    He was a participant in a murder in which the said gun was used to kill an innocent person.

    Sentences exponentially piled up on a non-melanistic version of Treyvon Martin.

    Excellent.

    Report Post »  
  • Realman30
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:26pm

    This crimnal reaped what he sowed.
    What’s the problem?

    Report Post » Realman30  
    • justangry
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:32pm

      125 years for theft? Really, you don‘t think that’s a little harsh?

      justangry  
    • eric6161
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 6:02pm

      He’ll never serve 125 years! At the very most he might serve 60. Maybe one of the Che lovers could just do the old brain blood drain and a quick firing squad… something to make the left proud.

      Report Post »  
  • SquidVetOhio
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:25pm

    Sadly, if he would have raped a child, he would have only gotten about 2 years. Unbelievable……

    Report Post » SquidVetOhio  
  • KickinBack
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:15pm

    Should’ve taken the plea deal. 100 years sounds like a bargain.

    Report Post » KickinBack  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:11pm

    Simple solution, execute the actual murderers and then our boy will feel better about his 125 years.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • GoodStuff
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:11pm

    Un-freakin-believable.

    Shoot a man execution-style and murder him: get 26 year in prison.

    Steal the gun that is to be used in this murder, though not there at the time of the murder: get 125 years in prison

    —”“This law has been upheld many times in appellate court,” ”

    Then those appellate judges need to be impeached!!

    Report Post »  
    • Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:29pm

      A man lies dead, murdered in cold blood for what this guy did. Why take issue with his sentence? This issue is with the murderers sentence.

      Report Post » Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve  
    • idaho1
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:35pm

      Absolutely not! Rather the Killer should have had the same or worse. You are upside down on your thinking, unfortunately many on the left feel the same.

      Report Post »  
  • ZAP
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:09pm

    Does this mean Holder gets 250 years?

    Report Post » ZAP  
  • Stu D. Baker-Hawk
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:08pm

    To all involved in this horrendous crime, I believe the term ‘Rot in Hell’ applies here.

    Report Post »  
  • Tri-ox
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:08pm

    The sentence seems justified.

    Report Post » Tri-ox  
    • SacredHonor1776
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:15pm

      Nah, the murderers diserve just as long a sentence…

      Report Post »  
    • Tri-ox
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:22pm

      @SACREDHONOR1776 Yes, I agree – they should all get AT LEAST 125 years – Actually, I think they should all be executed.

      Report Post » Tri-ox  
    • SacredHonor1776
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 6:44pm

      Yes, they should get what they gave to the victims…

      Report Post »  
  • AllLost
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:08pm

    Yeah….that is par for the course with this government.

    Report Post »  
  • doomytram
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:08pm

    Reparations for the Killers! You didn’t build that – somebody else made that happen

    Report Post » doomytram  
  • justangry
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:08pm

    Prisons are big business and their lobbying money pays well I guess. Three cheers for the police state!!

    Report Post » justangry  
    • barber2
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:19pm

      Ouch. Think I smell an anti-capitalist here. He doesn’t like “ big business” more than the murder and robbery angle ? OWS supporter ?

      Report Post »  
    • justangry
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:24pm

      So you‘re saying we don’t live in a police state, Barbara?

      Report Post » justangry  
    • Stu D. Baker-Hawk
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:36pm

      @JustAngry: Who’s Barbara? If you’re addressing BARBER2 then say so. Dolt!

      Report Post »  
    • justangry
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:46pm

      @Stu, A man can only take so much of an OCD online stalker calling him names on every post before he lashes out. And that’s all Barbie does.

      Report Post » justangry  
  • Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:07pm

    The only problem I have with this is that the killers didn’t get 125 years as well. Otherwise, nice job to the prosecution.

    Report Post » Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve  
    • justangry
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:00pm

      I have a problem with Federal minimum sentences, but agree with you on pratically everything else.

      Report Post » justangry  
  • Charley1
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:04pm

    You pays your money and you takes your chances. TSMF. Have a nice life!

    Report Post »  
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