A Jefferson City teenager charged in connection with a November 2018 murder pleaded guilty to one of the charges against him as part of a plea deal.
During a hearing Thursday afternoon before Cole County Judge Jon Beetem, Bruce Thomas, 16, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree robbery in connection with the killing of Nilez Nichols, 19, of Jefferson City, at a residence in the 1900 block of Stadium Boulevard. Nichols died of injuries from a single gunshot.
When asked by Beetem if he did participate in the robbery and that a deadly weapon was used, Thomas responded, "Yes, sir."
Under an agreement with the Cole County Prosecutor's Office, Thomas would serve a maximum of 12 years on the robbery charge. It is possible that, due to his age, Thomas could serve part of his sentence in the custody of the Missouri Division of Youth Services, which is a state agency that operates juvenile correctional facilities. DYS is part of the Missouri Department of Social Services. If that occurs, when he is 21, Thomas would be considered for probation or have his sentence continue at an adult prison in the Missouri Department of Corrections.
Prosecutor Locke Thompson also said they would defer on prosecuting the second-degree murder charge Thomas is facing in this case for five years to cover the possibility for potential trials of his co-defendants in this case to make it through the courts.
The second-degree murder and first-degree robbery charges are class A felonies. If a person is convicted of these crimes, state law sets a maximum prison sentence of 10-30 years or life (which is calculated at 30 years).
Thomas was 15 at the time of the crime and was certified as an adult to stand trial.
Beetem has ordered a sentencing assessment report be done for Thomas by the Probation and Parole Office and to have that ready for a final disposition hearing March 3. On Jan. 7, Beetem will take up a request from Thomas' attorney, Public Defender Chris Carter, for his client to be allowed to be released from the Cole County Jail to get things in order before he is sentenced.
In May, another suspect in this case, Semaj Harris, 20, pleaded guilty to one count of felony stealing during a hearing before Cole County Senior Judge Richard Callahan.
Harris had been charged with second-degree murder and first-degree robbery under a plea agreement with the prosecutor's office, Harris is serving five years in the Missouri Department of Corrections in exchange for his testimony in cases involving other defendants in this case.
Thompson said Harris had acted with two others who stole marijuana from inside the residence.
During Harris' hearing, Judge Callahan asked Thompson who the other two suspects were in the case and Thompson said they were Thomas and Berry Jones, 27, of Davenport, Iowa.
Harris told Callahan he knew these individuals and he had gone into the residence and marijuana was stolen.
Jones is charged with second-degree murder and first-degree robbery in the case and he is scheduled to be back in court in March.
In probable cause statements filed in connection with this case, police said Thomas went to the residence with Harris and Jones to obtain marijuana and admitted to police he had been in contact with a resident of the home and had reached an agreement to purchase an ounce of marijuana. Thomas also allegedly admitted he had gone to the residence with the intent of taking the marijuana without paying for it. The police statement said Thomas also asked the resident about firearms for sale, and the resident showed Thomas a handgun in which the teen showed interest.
Police said Thomas told them he and the resident got into a fight over the pistol and drugs, and the resident was injured in that altercation.
Police said the victim of the robbery identified Harris as the person who forced open the door and pointed a firearm at him, but Harris denied holding a weapon.
Thomas told police he had stolen the victim's drugs and firearm. The victim then called out to his roommate, Nichols, for help, telling him to chase after the suspects as they ran from the home.
Nichols chased Thomas and Jones from the home then was shot while on the sidewalk in front of the house, police said.
Police said Thomas was fleeing the residence with the firearm and drugs when Nichols was shot. Nichols retreated back into his home, where he collapsed and died of his injuries.