Two Young Columbus Men Sentenced To Life Terms For 2013 Crimes

Two Columbus men who went on a crime spree in the summer of 2013 will spend the rest of their lives behind bars. The pair was sentenced Monday for their convictions on murder and carjacking charges. Franklin County Judge Tim Horton meted life sentences to 18 year old Devonere Simmonds and 19 year Nathaniel Brunner. The two men killed a south side convenience store clerk July 24th, 2013. Three days later, they shot and injured a driver at a Madison County truck stop. A Franklin County jury convcivted both men of aggravated murder. Testimony indicated Simmonds pulled the trigger in both shootings but may have received instruction from Brunner. Simmonds was a juvenile at the time of the shootings. Judge Horton says in meting the life terms he distinguished who pulled the trigger. Simmonds was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Brunner was sentenced to life in prison with parole possible after 78 years. Brunner would then be 97 years old.