Man found guilty of felony murder in Houston home invasion

PERRY -- A Warner Robins man was found guilty of felony murder Thursday for his involvement in a botched home invasion last year in Houston County.

Nicholas C. Brooks, 30, wearing a plaid shirt and black pants, laid his hands on the table and hung his head as the verdict was read. A woman sitting on a bench behind him let out a sob.

Appearing in Houston County Superior Court, Brooks also was found guilty of burglary, attempted armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Brooks, Michael Scott Cossette, 27, of Warner Robins, and Kelly Lynn Williamson, 22, of Centerville, were accused of the April 6, 2010, home invasion for cash and drugs at 918 Collins Ave., Lot 60, in which Jason Blount, 31, of Houston County, was shot and killed.

Cossette, the admitted shooter, pleaded guilty April 14 to felony murder and burglary and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years.

The case against Williamson, the admitted getaway driver, is pending, with a plea expected of less than murder and less than a life sentence.

Brooks will be sentenced at 10 a.m. Friday in front of Judge Edward D. Lukemire. The minimum sentence he can receive is life in prison plus five years, District Attorney George Hartwig said.

“It’s obvious from the verdicts that were returned that (the jury) didn’t believe the defendant’s claims that he was threatened into participating,” Hartwig said after the trial. “Once that part was answered, I think the guilty part was easy. There was a lot of evidence.”

The defense had argued Brooks was coerced into the home invasion by Cossette, who threatened to shoot Brooks if he did not go along with the home invasion.

“I think the evidence was obvious that (Brooks) didn’t participate willingly,” attorney Pattie Williams, who represented Brooks, said outside the courtroom.

Williams said Brooks maintained his innocence since the beginning.

Jurors returned the verdict after fewer than two hours of deliberation. The jury foreman declined to comment, and a bailiff said jury members asked him to escort them to their cars because they did want to talk to anyone. A few appeared to have been crying.

To contact writer Becky Purser, call 256-9559.

To contact writer Jennifer Burk, call 256-9705.

This story was originally published April 29, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Man found guilty of felony murder in Houston home invasion."