A Kansas City, Missouri man, Anthony Nichols, has been sentenced to 302 months in prison in the case stemming from the September 7, 2013 shooting death of Anthony Nixon of Junction City at the intersection of 10th and Webster in Junction City.
The sentence imposed in Geary County District Court on Monday included prison terms of 247 months for Voluntary Manslaughter and 55 months for Aggravated Robbery convictions. The sentences are to run consecutive, making the total 302 months, or 25 years and two months. Nichols could be eligible for 15-percent good-time credit in the future if he earns it during his incarceration. A 36-month post release period is also part of the sentence on the Voluntary Manslaughter count. Nichols had entered a plea agreement in the case in April of this year.
Geary County Attorney Steve Opat confirmed Anthony Nixon, 37, was shot in the head.
Opat wanted the consecutive prison terms for Nichols. “Any case like this involves multiple acts committed by the defendant. In this case it wasn’t just shooting somebody. It was shooting them and robbing them after you shoot them, and leaving them there to die, and then going off and conceivably, and possibly the evidence would have described the fact that he engaged in a drug sale immediately after that.” Opat added, “I just felt that a concurrent sentence was inappropriate. Thankfully the judge agreed. I think his criminal history had something to do with it. He worked hard to get where he is, and now he got it.”
Prior to sentencing in District Court, the Anthony Nixon’s mother told the court that the action by Nichols to take her son away hurt her and her family, and also noted that she knew Anthony Nichols’ family was also “going through this devastation as well.” She asked for consecutive sentences.
Anthony Nixon’s brother testified that his brother is gone and will never have a chance to see his grandchildren grow up and his daughter graduate from high school. He told Nichols, “You took a father, brother, an uncle, and a grandfather. You took my friend.”
Defense Attorney Jeffrey Wicks asked for the low number concurrent sentence applicable in the case. He noted two families are hurting, and referred to his client, saying “He’s no Saint, but he’s not Satan.” Before pronouncing sentence, Judge Maritza Segarra stated both families lost in this case. She told Nichols, “You took the highest thing you can take from somebody. You took a life.”
Anthony Nichols also faces a charge of 1st Degree Murder in a separate Riley County case stemming from the stabbing death of John Burroughs, 68, Manhattan, on September 8,2013. The trial for Nichols in Riley County District Court is scheduled for July 28.