Former Auburn Police officer Jeffrey Nelson was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison on Jan. 23, 2025 for the 2019 fatal shooting of Jesse Sarey, marking the first conviction of a law enforcement officer in Washington state under the reforms of Initiative 940.
This week, King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion released the following statement about Nelson’s case:
“A King County jury found that Officer Nelson’s actions were not above the law, and a King County judge has sentenced him to prison. We respect the jury’s decision in June and the Court’s decision today. The sentence reflects the very serious nature of Jeffrey Nelson’s crimes. This is the first time an officer has been tried, convicted and sentenced in Washington State under the reforms of I-940. We have always known how impactful this case is to the individuals involved and to the community as a whole. Our thoughts continue to be with the family and loved ones of Jesse Sarey.”
This case is significant as it is the first conviction under Washington’s updated law, which removed the requirement to prove an officer acted with malice, making it easier to prosecute on-duty killings.
Nelson’s defense attorney announced plans to appeal Nelson’s conviction, citing significant legal errors during the trial.
Read our previous coverage of Nelson here.
Be First to Comment