Prison time piles up for killer going to death row

A man who was sentenced to death by a Clark County jury in September for murdering two people in 2005 on Thursday received additional sentences of 18 to 46 years in prison for other convictions, including robbery with a deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit murder.

Thomas Richardson, 42, was convicted of murdering in 2005 a 91-year-old cancer survivor and her grandson, beating them to death with a claw hammer during a home robbery.

Authorities said Richardson came to Las Vegas over the 2005 Labor Day weekend with his girlfriend's teenage son, Robert Denhart, with a plan to rob and kill Steven Folker, 43. Folker was staying with his grandmother, Estelle Feldman. The robbery netted Richardson and Denhart about $400.

Denhart, who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and robbery with a deadly weapon, testified against Richardson at his trial. In exchange for his testimony, Denhart was sentenced to 24 to 80 years in prison on Oct. 6 as part of a plea deal. With almost three years credit for time served, Denhart could be eligible for parole in 21 years.

Richardson's defense during trial was that Denhart had slain Feldman and Folker.

On Thursday, he was steadfast in maintaining that theory.

"Again I would like to apologize to the family for their loss. And again I accept responsibility for my actions on that day," Richardson said. "Nobody else's, but mine and mine alone. I'm not going to ask the family for forgiveness, and I won't beg this court for mercy for something I didn't do. That's not going to happen."

Marcia LaFrance, whose mother and brother were the victims, attended the hearing and sobbed as District Judge Michelle Leavitt read Richardson's sentence. Richardson was sentenced to death twice for the two first-degree murder convictions, which carried enhancements for the use of a deadly weapon and a victim who was 60 years or older.

An execution date of Jan. 25 was entered, but a stay of execution was immediately signed per Nevada law, which allows for automatic appeal in capital cases. The appeals process for death penalty cases can take 10 years or more.

Richardson's attorney, Special Public Defender David Schieck, said his client's "position is that Denhart was responsible for what happened and his position didn't change today. The person most responsible made a deal with the state."

Richardson has already been convicted of the robbery of a California Kmart with Denhart in 2005. He was convicted for the 1992 rape of a woman in San Antonio for which he served time and was released. Both convictions were considered mitigating circumstances by jurors who sentenced Richardson to death.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@ reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.