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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa teenager who pleaded guilty to killing his high school Spanish teacher has been sentenced to 35 years in prison. The Iowa Supreme Court confirmed this sentence on Friday, emphasizing that the ruling comes with the possibility of parole after the designated time.
Willard Miller, who was 16 at the time of the crime, along with another teenager, fatally assaulted Nohema Graber, a 66-year-old educator at Fairfield High School, back in 2021. Miller was sentenced last year to a life term that included a mandatory minimum duration of incarceration. However, he challenged this sentence in the Iowa Supreme Court, arguing that sentencing juvenile offenders to a mandatory number of years before eligibility for parole is unconstitutional.
On Friday, the state’s highest court unanimously supported the original district court’s ruling. The justices concluded that while Iowa law permits such minimum sentences for juvenile offenders, it is essential to consider the specific circumstances of each case. The court found that the district judge had properly applied the relevant sentencing considerations.
Importantly, the Iowa Constitution prohibits life sentences for juvenile offenders without the possibility of parole.
Miller’s co-defendant, Jeremy Goodale, received a sentence of life in prison, but with eligibility for parole after 25 years. The two teenagers murdered Graber on November 2, 2021, in a park that she often frequented after classes. Prosecutors indicated that their motivation stemmed from anger towards Graber due to a poor grade she had assigned to Miller.
Both Miller and Goodale were tried as adults; however, their status as minors exempted them from facing a mandatory life sentence without parole for first-degree murder. During his sentencing, Miller took responsibility for his actions and expressed remorse. His defense team argued for immediate parole eligibility, while the prosecution suggested a minimum sentence of 30 years.
Fairfield, with a population of approximately 9,400 residents, is situated about 100 miles (160 kilometers) southeast of Des Moines.
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