The sentence is life in prison for Richard Griswold in the shooting death last November, of 49-year-old Connie Eacret of Beatrice. Gage County District Judge Paul Korslund said Monday Griswold had a history of assaultive behavior and violence toward women and was a risk to society.
The judge noted a psychiatric evaluation determined that Griswold had an increasing aggressive behavior, including threats to kill others and himself prior to the fatal shooting incident last November.
Prior to sentencing, Griswold read from a prepared statement in court, maintaining he did NOT intend to shoot the woman he was dating. Griswold drew a consecutive term of 50-years in prison for the use of a firearm to commit a felony.
Gage County Attorney Randall Ritnour said he was pleased with the maximum term Griswold received for the murder, saying he “got what he deserved.” Assistant Nebraska Attorney General Doug Warner had argued in his sentencing statement for a significant amount of prison time, citing Griswold’s past anger and substance abuse as factors in the shooting death.
During sentencing arguments, defense co-counsel James Mowbray sought a prison term of 30-to-40 years on the second-degree murder count, and two-to-five years on the weapon charge. Griswold himself made the 911 call to police and reported the shooting and was waiting for officers outside Eacret’s home.
Under the sentence, Griswold will not be eligible for parole, unless the second-degree murder sentence would be thrown out. The murder trial last May was notable in that it was the first such trial granted electronic coverage by television and radio, under guidelines of the Nebraska Supreme Court.
Thanks to Doug Kennedy, KWBE, Beatrice