DES MOINES, Iowa — An Iowa teenager convicted for fatally attacking his high school Spanish teacher with a baseball bat has been sentenced to a minimum of 35 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole, a decision reaffirmed by the state Supreme Court on Friday.
Willard Miller, who was just 16 years old at the time of the crime, along with another teen, was responsible for the death of Nohema Graber, a 66-year-old educator at Fairfield High School, in 2021. Miller received his sentence last year, which included a life term with a stipulated minimum period he must serve. He later challenged this ruling, claiming that it was unconstitutional to impose mandatory minimum sentences on juvenile offenders prior to their parole eligibility.
On Friday, the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously supported the previous ruling from the district court. The justices determined that legal precedents allow for mandatory minimum sentences for juvenile offenders provided that the specific circumstances of their cases are taken into account. They concluded that the original sentencing judge properly considered these factors while making the decision.
Importantly, the Iowa Constitution forbids imposing life sentences on juvenile offenders without any chance for parole.
Miller was charged with the murder of Graber, along with Jeremy Goodale, who received a life sentence but with the option for parole after 25 years. The tragic event occurred on November 2, 2021, in a park frequented by Graber after school hours. Prosecutors indicated that the motive behind the attack stemmed from Miller’s displeasure over a poor grade given by Graber.
Though both teenagers were tried as adults, their respective ages meant they could not be subjected to the harshest mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder. During his sentencing proceedings, Miller acknowledged his actions and expressed remorse. While his attorneys argued for immediate parole eligibility, state prosecutors suggested a minimum term of 30 years.
Fairfield, the city where these events took place, has a population of around 9,400 and is located roughly 100 miles southeast of Des Moines.
