In giving Biela four life sentences for rape and kidnap, judge says he terrorized community

posted on: July 30, 2010

In addition to the death sentence a jury ordered last month for killing Brianna Denison, a judge today sentenced James Biela to four consecutive life prison terms for raping Denison and two others.

Biela's violent attacks escalated from a rape in a parking garage, to kidnapping to murder, Judge Robert Perry said. He deserves to be sentenced separately for each of these violent crimes, Perry said.

"Not only were these people terrorized, but the community was terrorized as well," he said, adding that public safety is his first concern and he wants to ensure that Biela remains in prison even if his death sentence is over-turned on appeal.

Deputy District Attorney Elliott Sattler praised the judge's decision.

"If anyone deserves the maximum possible punishment it's James Michael Biela," Sattler said.

Co-prosecutor Chris Hicks agreed.

"(Perry) listened to all of the testimony. He's well aware of the kind of guy Biela is," Hicks said. "I commend him for the sentence."

Lauren Denison, Brianna's aunt, said the family came to court today to support the other two victims and was pleased that the judge ordered a separate sentence for each crime.

"Judge Perry made it count for them," she said. "He validated the attacks on them."

Biela, who sat in court in a red jail jumpsuit and a black bulletproof vest, declined to make a statement during the hearing. His family, who lined the row of seats behind him, did not wish to comment.

Judge Robert Perry set July 30 as the date for sentencing.

posted on: June 16, 2010

On Wednesday, June 2, the jury in the James Biela murder trial rejected defense arguments for life without parole and sentenced Biela to death. Judge Robert Perry set July 30 as the date for sentencing on kidnapping and sexual assault charges against two other women, crimes Biela was also found guilty of in addition to the murder of Brianna Denison. Biela will be transfered to Ely State Prison to be housed with other Nevada death row inmates.

Death penalty for James Biela

posted on: June 3, 2010

Death for James Biela. Justice for Bri.

The blue-ribbon-lined buttons bearing Brianna Denison's smiling face that appeared on the lapels of dozens of people in the courtroom after the verdict summed it up.
"It's what we wanted," said Lauren Denison, Brianna's aunt.

"It turned out right," said Barbara Zunino, Brianna's grandmother.

"Justice was served," said retired Reno police Detective Adam Wygnanski, one of the lead investigators on the case. "The jury had a tough job and they did it."

After three-and-a-half weeks of trial, testimony from 60 witnesses and nine hours of deliberations, the seven-woman, five-man jury rejected his lawyers' calls for life without parole and sentenced Biela to death for the 2008 rape and murder of 19-year-old Denison.

On the verdict form, the jurors acknowledged that Biela experienced a cruel and painful childhood but still agreed that he should die by lethal injection.

After the decision was announced, Judge Robert Perry told everyone in the courtroom: "My heart goes out to all of the innocent people who have been touched by this tragedy." He set July 30 for sentencing Beila on the kidnapping and two counts of sexual assault on other women.

As Biela was led from the courtroom in handcuffs, he told his family, lining the front row, not to cry and that he loved them.
"We love you, Jimmy," they called out as he passed.

On the other side of the room, where the Denison-Zunino family sat for almost a month, was elation and a promise to use the tragedy to make the community a safer place.

Brianna's mother Bridgette Denison, told a news conference after the verdict that they're ready to fight.

"Together we lost a beautiful, vibrant and promising life and my family and friends have suffered unimaginable tragedy, but we can and will turn this loss into something positive and good," she said. "When James Michael Biela messed with my little girl, he messed with the wrong families, the wrong group of women and the wrong city and state."

Jury deliberations pass six-hour mark

posted on: June 2, 2010

Update at 11:47 a.m. The jury deciding the sentence for James Biela has passed the six-hour mark in their deliberations, and just ordered lunch.

The seven women and five men are choosing between a death sentence, or life in prison without parole.

The same panel took about six and a half hours last week to find Biela guilty of raping and strangling 19-year-old Brianna Denison, kidnapping and sexually assaulting one university student, and raping another at gunpoint.

Update at 10:05 a.m. The jury in the James Biela murder and sexual assault trial began deliberations at 8:30 this morning, after failing to reach a decision on his punishment last night.

The seven women and five men debated for two hours Tuesday before Judge Robert Perry sent them home.

The most recent capital case in Washoe County was with Tamir Hamilton, who was convicted in 2008 of raping and killing 16-year-old Holly Quick, a Sparks teen, in September 2006.

The jury deliberated for several hours before sentencing Hamilton to death.

A Washoe County jury rejected a death sentence in 2003 in the case of Larry Peck, convicted of fatally shooting Reno police Officer John Bohach during a standoff on Vassar Street on Aug. 22, 2001.

The jury took three hours to convict Peck of first-degree murder, and another three hours to sentence him to life in prison without parole.

The Biela jury found him guilty last week of raping and killing Brianna Denison in early 2008, and sexually assaulting two other women in late 2007.

The prosecution asked for death. His lawyers urged the jury to send him to prison for life.

_____________________

The 12 jurors tasked with deciding the punishment for James Biela will continue deliberations this morning at 8:30.

The panel, which found Biela guilty of raping and killing Brianna Denison and sexually assaulting two other students, deliberated for two hours last night without reaching a decision.

In closing arguments yesterday in the penalty phase of the trial, which is in its fourth week, Deputy District Attorney Elliott Sattler said Biela deserves the death penalty for his crimes. Defense lawyers urged the jury to vote for life in prison without the possibility of parole.

While the jury must decide his sentence for the murder charge, Judge Robert Perry will sentence Biela on the kidnapping and three sexual assault counts. No date for that sentencing has been set.

The Bring Bri Justice Foundation has created the Brianna Guide to aid in the search for a missing person. Additionally, the Foundation has created a search team to work with law enforcement in recovering missing persons. Currently, the search team is undergoing training from the Washoe County Sheriff's Department. The Foundation Center, in the Smithridge Shopping Plaza, will serve as the search center, in the event that someone from Washoe County is missing. If so, we will be in need of both search volunteers as well as donations, so please add your name to the volunteer list and donate using this web page.
 

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