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| Sheley Sentenced to Life in Prison |
FIRST REPORTED 11:45am 11/18/11 It was an emotional but overall happy moment for the friends and family members of 65-year old Ronald Randall.
The friends and family released balloons into the air outside the Knox County Courthouse Fridayu afternoon, after accused spree killer Nicholas Sheley was sentenced by Judge James Stewart to life in prison without the possibility of parole for Randall's death, along with concurrent sentences of 30 years in prison for the Class-X felony of Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking, and another seven years for Possession of a Stolen Vehicle -- the maximum sentences allowable under the law.
Knox County State's Attorney John Pepmeyer read a statement to reporters following the conclusion of the hearing.
"Today was the Randall Family's day. It's their day, what we geared for all along," Pepmeyer said.
Family members told the court through victim impact statements that Ronald Randall was a happy man, loved to work in his yard, and attended lots of family sporting events and ball games.
Randall's daughter Cari Smith said "The devil is waiting for Nick Sheley."
Defense attorney Jeremy Karlin declined to comment. He's representing Sheley in Whiteside County for the death of 93-year old Russell Reed of Sterling, also as part of a suspected two-state killing spree. That case is scheduled to go to trial in March.
A motion for a new trial in the Knox County case was denied prior to sentencing.
(Attorneys and family members of 65-year old Ronald Randall release white and blue balloons into the air Friday afternoon, after Nicholas Sheley was sentenced to life in prison for Randall's death. WGIL News Story and Photo by Will Stevenson.) |
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