WR man sentenced to life for botched Houston home invasion

PERRY -- A Warner Robins man received a life sentence Friday for his involvement in the killing of a man in a botched home invasion last year in Houston County.

Nicholas C. Brooks, 30, was sentenced in Houston County Superior Court to life in prison, plus an an additional five years, for the crime. He will be eligible for parole after 30 years.

On Thursday, Brooks was found guilty of felony murder, burglary, attempted armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

"You, unfortunately, were involved in what's been called a meth culture. That's some horrible stuff, and nothing good comes of it," Judge Edward D. Lukemire told Brooks during his sentencing. "You being involved in that culture influenced what happened.

"You're paying a tremendous price for that ... but someone else has paid an even greater price. And that's unfortunate."

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.

This story was originally published April 29, 2011 at 11:09 AM with the headline "WR man sentenced to life for botched Houston home invasion."