Photo: WCNC
On Wednesday, Nathanael entered into a plea deal with prosecutors — one that Gaston County Police Chief Joseph Ramey deemed “risky” in court.
“We’re taking a risk in letting someone who’s committed homicide, first-degree homicide, in allowing them a shorter sentence,” Ramey offered, according to WCNC. “I think that’s too risky.”
The plea deal follows the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that invalidated life sentences for minors convicted of murder, according to the reports.
Ramey once worked with Randy High, who was a 47-year-old law enforcement officer when his teenage son fatally shot him on Feb. 10, 2002.
The reports fail to mention the name of Nathanael’s co-defendant, but Randy, according to the reports, did not approve of the relationship.
On Wednesday, Nathanael’s charge was reduced to second-degree murder. With time served, Nathanael could be released in as soon as 21 months.
“It’s very important for me that my family knows how sorry I am for this,” Nathanael said in court. “Being punished is part of the process, and I’m doing my part.”
“I created this wound,” he continued. “I can deal with the wound that I created, but it’s harder for them because even 20 years later, there are family members that are never going to understand.”
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Nathanael’s maternal relatives support his release, the reports indicate. But his father’s ex-wife and another of his brothers expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome.
“We just want to make sure that the court’s aware of just what a tremendous loss this has been for them,” Assistant District Attorney Debbie Gulledge told the judge. “That’s something that they continue to feel on a daily basis.”
source: people.com
