This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A man accused of bringing the gun that was ultimately used to kill a South Salt Lake man during a home-invasion robbery will spend up to 30 years in prison.
Chad Duran Nester, 25, was sentenced Friday in 3rd District Court on second-degree felony counts of manslaughter, robbery and obstruction of justice for his role in the Feb. 22, 2010, shooting of Steven Leon Villiard.
According to charges filed last year, Jason James Davis, 37, and Nester had planned to break into Villiard's home, near 75 E. Claybourne Ave. (2700 South), and demand money and the keys to his Volvo. Davis shot and killed Villiard after the man picked up a baseball bat to defend himself, court documents state.
In his plea deal with prosecutors, Nester admitted to handing Davis the gun used to kill Villiard, according to court documents.
Davis searched Villiard's pockets as he lay dying on the floor, charges state. He found nothing and pointed the gun at a woman in the house. The woman gave him $2 and Davis left, according to court documents.
Davis pleaded guilty in July to first-degree felony murder for shooting and killing the 64-year-old Villiard.
On Friday, Judge Judith Atherton sentenced Nester to three prison terms of one to 15 years. Two of those sentences are to run at the same time.
Davis is scheduled for sentencing Oct. 27.
Twitter: @aaronfalk