A suburban Seattle police officer was sentenced Thursday to over 16 years in jail for the 2019 capturing loss of life of a homeless man he was making an attempt to arrest for disorderly conduct, marking the primary conviction beneath a Washington state legislation that made it simpler to prosecute officers for on-duty killings.
A jury discovered Auburn police Officer Jeffrey Nelson responsible June 27 of second-degree homicide and first-degree assault within the loss of life of Jesse Sarey.
King County Superior Courtroom Choose Nicole Gaines Phelps sentenced Nelson to simply over 16 1/2 years for the homicide conviction and 6 1/2 years for assault, to be served concurrently.
Earlier than sentencing Nelson on the excessive finish of the usual vary, Phelps chastised the 46-year-old officer for his violent habits in uniform.
“Respect for the law, here, goes more beyond you, Officer Nelson,” Phelps stated. “This is the first case in which a police officer was charged and it in some ways serves as a telescope for others to view police conduct and for police to remember to abide by their training when engaging in situations so that they do not become lethal to them or to others they are sworn to protect and serve.”
Nelson, seated in a packed courtroom in a pink short-sleeve jail uniform, his arms lined in tattoos and his hair lower quick, confirmed no emotion because the decide spoke. His spouse and different Auburn law enforcement officials sat behind him in his help, whereas Sarey’s family and friends crammed the opposite aspect of the courtroom.
Prosecutors had stated at trial in June that Nelson punched Sarey a number of occasions earlier than capturing him within the stomach. Seconds later, Nelson shot Sarey within the brow. Nelson had claimed Sarey tried to seize his gun and a knife, so he shot him in self-defense, however video confirmed Sarey was on his again along with his head positioned away from Nelson after the primary shot.
King County Particular Prosecutor Patty Eakes, citing Nelson’s lengthy historical past of violence and disrespect for his coaching, requested the decide to condemn him on the increased finish of the usual vary: 18 years for homicide and 10 for the assault conviction.
“What was Jesse Sarey doing? Sitting outside of a grocery store drinking from discarded cups,” Eakes stated. “He had other tools other than pulling out his gun and shooting an unarmed person in the stomach.”
Sarey’s household, together with two brothers and a former foster sister, advised the decide that his violent loss of life by a police officer crushed their household, and so they’re completely happy to see Nelson held accountable.
“Six years in the making to see justice not only for Jesse but for all impacted families in Washington state!” Elaine Simmons, Sarey’s foster mom, stated after sentencing.
King County Prosecuting Lawyer Leesa Manion hailed the sentence as displaying Nelson’s actions “were not above the law.”
“The sentence reflects the very serious nature of Jeffrey Nelson’s crimes,” her assertion stated, noting it was the primary time an officer has been tried, convicted and sentenced beneath the Washington state legislation that made it simpler to prosecutor officers for killings whereas on obligation.
Nelson lawyer Emma Scanlan stated the protection will attraction.
It was the second case tried since Washington voters in 2018 eliminated a normal that required prosecutors to show an officer acted with malice — a normal no different state had. Now they have to present the extent of pressure was unreasonable or pointless. In December, jurors acquitted three Tacoma law enforcement officials within the 2020 loss of life of Manuel Ellis.
Nelson’s legal professionals had beneficial the bottom attainable vary – 6 1/2 years — arguing he had served his neighborhood “on countless occasions, placed the lives of strangers above his own.”
Nelson’s spouse, Natalie Mounts, advised the decide he was sort to others and his household wanted him.
“He has a heart of service and a need to take care of people,” Mounts stated. “Jeff and I are very sorry for the loss suffered by the Sarey family.”
An Auburn police assistant chief and commander additionally spoke of Nelson’s generosity and work ethic, however Phelps rebuked them for failing to acknowledge trial proof displaying Nelson’s propensity towards violence and mendacity to cowl it up.
“That tells me that the Auburn Police Department will stand by anyone and everyone as long as they have a badge,” she stated.
If you wish to take a look at a person’s character, she stated, give him energy.
“In this situation, I would add give him power, a badge and a gun,” she stated. “Character is who you are when no one is looking. When Officer Nelson thought that no one was looking … he took the opportunity to harm others.”
Sarey was the third particular person Nelson killed whereas on obligation.
Nelson killed Isaiah Obet in 2017. Obet was appearing erratically and Nelson ordered his police canine to assault. He shot Obet within the torso after which the top after he fell to the bottom. The police stated Nelson’s life was at risk as a result of Obet was excessive on medication and had a knife. The town settled with Obet’s household for $1.25 million.
In 2011, Nelson fatally shot Brian Scaman, a Vietnam Struggle veteran with psychological points and a historical past of felonies who pulled out a knife and refused to drop it after Nelson stopped him for a burned-out headlight. Nelson shot him within the head. An inquest jury cleared Nelson of wrongdoing.
The Metropolis of Auburn settled with Sarey’s household for $4 million and has paid almost $2 million extra to settle different litigation over Nelson’s actions as an officer. Nelson stays on unpaid depart.
Earlier than sentencing, Nelson’s lawyer Kristen Murray requested the decide to throw out the assault cost as constituting double jeopardy. However the decide let each counts stand, saying jurors acknowledged that two pictures fired seconds aside — after Nelson’s gun jammed and he cleared it — as separate actions.