CB man gets six years in prison for fatally shooting half-brother
COQUILLE, Ore. - A Coos Bay man is sent to prison for the next six years, after pleading guilty to second degree manslaughter in the shooting death of his brother.
60 year-old Nickolas Crooks will spend the next 75 months behind bars, after he admitted to shooting and killing his half brother, 52 year-old Kevin Nelson, during a heated argument last May.
Crooks opted not to go to trial during a court hearing last week, instead pleading guilty to a charge of manslaughter in the second degree, a Measure 11 crime.
"It was one of those cases where as the investigation went on, and on, and on, it became clear that this was a case that perhaps the defendant did not want to try," said Coos County District Attorney Paul Frasier on Monday.
Frasier says when reviewing the case, he looked at many factors, including the relationship between Crooks and his half-brother, the use of alcohol by both parties the day of the crime, and that there were no real eyewitnesses to the shooting.
Frasier says these helped lead him to the manslaughter charge, rather than trying Crooks for murder.
"If he went to trial and lost, you're looking at a 25 year minimum sentence to life, whereas if I take the case to trial and I lose, he walks. So, this is something of a compromise."
In the courtroom on Monday, were members of the family, including Crooks' niece, Tracy Matthews, who took the stand to say a few supportive words to her uncle before sentencing.
"I just want to say that Nick is a very kind-hearted man. This is a horrible accident. When he gets out, my door, our family's doors are open to him," said Matthews.
Under Measure 11 sentencing guidelines, Crooks will spend the entire 75 month sentence in prison, with no option for early release or other programs.
He will also serve 36 months of post-prison supervision, and will not be allowed to possess or consume alcohol during that time.
60 year-old Nickolas Crooks will spend the next 75 months behind bars, after he admitted to shooting and killing his half brother, 52 year-old Kevin Nelson, during a heated argument last May.
Crooks opted not to go to trial during a court hearing last week, instead pleading guilty to a charge of manslaughter in the second degree, a Measure 11 crime.
"It was one of those cases where as the investigation went on, and on, and on, it became clear that this was a case that perhaps the defendant did not want to try," said Coos County District Attorney Paul Frasier on Monday.
Frasier says when reviewing the case, he looked at many factors, including the relationship between Crooks and his half-brother, the use of alcohol by both parties the day of the crime, and that there were no real eyewitnesses to the shooting.
Frasier says these helped lead him to the manslaughter charge, rather than trying Crooks for murder.
"If he went to trial and lost, you're looking at a 25 year minimum sentence to life, whereas if I take the case to trial and I lose, he walks. So, this is something of a compromise."
In the courtroom on Monday, were members of the family, including Crooks' niece, Tracy Matthews, who took the stand to say a few supportive words to her uncle before sentencing.
"I just want to say that Nick is a very kind-hearted man. This is a horrible accident. When he gets out, my door, our family's doors are open to him," said Matthews.
Under Measure 11 sentencing guidelines, Crooks will spend the entire 75 month sentence in prison, with no option for early release or other programs.
He will also serve 36 months of post-prison supervision, and will not be allowed to possess or consume alcohol during that time.
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