Man who killed ex-girlfriend gives a brief statement moments before sentencing

DRIGGS — A Jackson man who murdered his ex-girlfriend and killed her unborn baby will serve 25 years to life in prison.

Erik Ohlson, 42, was sentenced by District Judge Bruce L. Pickett Friday afternoon following hours of testimony and victim impact statements. Ohlson shot and killed 39-year-old Jennifer Nalley, who was 8 to 12 weeks pregnant, at a cabin in Driggs on July 5, 2016.

Ohlson sat stoned faced and did not react when Pickett handed down the sentence. The only time Ohlson showed emotion during the hearing was when he started to cry as his sister described how they were best friends. Ohlson’s mother also took the stand on his behalf.

Jim Archibald, Ohlson’s defense attorney, asked Pickett to give his client 10 years to life in prison with the possibility of parole in seven years. Archibald justified his request by mentioning Ohlson’s struggles with alcoholism, his lack of a criminal record and the “emotionally stressful” situation he was in with Nalley.

Archibald said this case began as a love story and Ohlson and Nalley enjoyed spending time together. They met in March and Nalley became pregnant in May, which is when they started having relationship problems.

“I want you to see how mean they were to each other. It wasn’t just him,” Archibald said, referring to text messages that the pair sent back and forth in the months leading up Nalley’s death. “His texting was in response to hers.”

Teton County Prosecutor Billy Siddoway detailed Ohlson and Nalley’s “rocky relationship” throughout the sentencing. Around the middle of May 2016, Ohlson sent text messages saying he wanted to kill not only Nalley but wishing for the death of the unborn child.

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