The third inmate involved in the killing of Officer Ronald Johnson will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Michael Nordman changed his plea to guilty, to escape the death penalty for his role in helping Eric Robert and Rodney Berget commit murder.
Nordman's agreement will keep him from suffering the same fate as Robert and Berget. It's that same agreement that allowed his sentencing to wrap up Thursday and save the Johnson family from having to go through the courtroom ordeal for the third time.
Nordman told the court he was the one who gave Rodney Berget the pipe and saran wrap used to kill RJ Johnson. While he was not the one who delivered the blows, the judge said he's still responsible for his death.
"You may or may not have know to whom those instruments were going to be used on but you at least made them their availability." Said Judge Brad Zell.
Nordman said little and did not apologize to the Johnson family for his actions. When the officer's widow addressed the court she made her pain, the pain Nordman caused, well know.
"He is just as responsible! Look at me! You are just as responsible as your friends!" Said Lynette Johnson.
Johnson told the court even though there was no blood on his uniform, Nordman is still a danger to everyone behind the penitentiary walls.
"You have to protect those corrections officers, that is my main goal from now on, things have changed, but please recommend that he never gets out of administrative segregation and he serves 180 days in disciplinary." Said Johnson.
The judge accepted the plea agreement and sentenced Nordman to life in prison. But he also echoed Johnson's recommendation that Nordman be placed under heightened security.
"Hopefully this sentence will at least protect society in the minimal way it can in the future." Said Judge Zell.
The decision whether Nordman gets out of administrative segregation is left up to the warden.
The Johnson family did not want to comment but Attorney General Marty Jackley made it known they have started down the road to recovery.
"As difficult as this remains for the family it brings some closure to the guilt phase of the proceedings as of right now all three players, Berget, Robert and Nordman have been held responsible and convicted for their conduct." Said Jackley.
Court documents suggested that Nordman traded the pipe and saran wrap for a handmade knife. That question was never answered.
The judge said there are many things we will never know about what happened that day, and it's probably best we don't know.
