Nicholas Sheley handed 2nd life sentence - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

Nicholas Sheley handed 2nd life sentence

By: Katie Jones

 kjones@cbs4qc.com

 Convicted killer Nicholas Sheley was handed another life sentence Wednesday for the second of 8 murders he's been accused of.  In a Whiteside County courtroom Nicholas Sheley was sentenced to life without parole for the brutal murder of 93–year–old Russell Reed.  This was Sheley's 2nd of eight murder trials.

He's already serving a life sentence for killing a Galesburg man.  This time around he was found guilty of first degree murder, home invasion and residential burglary.  He's already been convicted of killing two people, so why waste the time and money on the other trials? County leaders hope to bring all the victim's families closure.

"How do you tell the family of these victims that their case is not worth trying?" Whiteside Co. State's Attorney Trish Joyce said.

That's exactly why Whiteside County State's Attorney Trish Joyce said government, state and local officials will continue to put forth the time and money for a trial.  She said it's better assurance Sheley will stay behind bars.

"How do you handle the case in the event that these convictions be over turned on appeal?" Joyce said.

Now that Sheley's been given life once again prosecutors are moving forward.  After the sentencing they talked with families of victims in the Knox County and Rock Falls murders to see what will happen next and they're not the only ones, defense attorney Jeremy Karlin is already preparing for trial number 3.

"This is one of the worst things allegedly that has happened in this county.  He needs an attorney that he feels comfortable and has experience with," said Karlin, "That's my job, that's why I'm licensed to practice law, to make sure my clients get the best possible defense under the worst possible circumstances."

Sheley's next trial will begin June 3rd.