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Fairfield teen who confessed to murder will be sentenced Thursday
FAIRFIELD — One of the two Fairfield teenagers who pleaded guilty to murder will be sentenced Thursday, July 6 at the Jefferson County Courthouse.
Willard “Chaiden” Miller, 17, and his co-defendant Jeremy Everett Goodale, 18, pleaded guilty in April to murdering Fairfield High School Spanish teacher Nohema Graber in November 2021. Miller’s initial sentencing date was set for July 5, but the defense and prosecution later agreed to delay it one day.
Jefferson County Attorney Chauncey Moulding said he plans to present hours of evidence Thursday that he would have presented at the trial. He also said he expects the judge to hand down a sentence later that day.
As of Monday, July 3, the prosecution had prepared at least 11 victim impact statements to be read or entered into the record during Miller’s sentencing.
Both teens were charged with Graber’s murder within a few days after Graber’s body was found in Fairfield’s Chautauqua Park. They pleaded not guilty, and were set to go to trial, but just days before Miller’s trial was to begin in Council Bluffs, both teens entered into a guilty plea for first-degree murder. However, the two teens gave differing accounts of what happened, with Goodale saying both of them struck Graber with a bat, while Miller claimed he was only acting as a lookout when Goodale struck Graber.
The prosecution will recommend a minimum of 30 years for Miller and up to life in prison with the possibility of parole, according to a plea agreement.
Goodale’s sentencing was set for Aug. 23, but his attorney has requested a delay because a psychologist the defense wants to testify is not available on that date, and won’t be available until October. However, the state has resisted the defense’s motion to delay the sentencing, so the two sides will hold a hearing on July 17 where a judge will decide if Goodale’s sentencing will be delayed.
Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com
