Fort Washakie Man Sentenced to Two Life Terms For Murder Of His Wife
A Fort Washakie man was sentenced to two consecutive life terms for the shooting death of his wife in November, according to court records.
Koby Dean Johnson, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Scott Skavdahl in Casper on Friday.
In June, a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder and for causing death with a firearm in connection with the murder on Nov. 15, 2015.
His late wife, Rachael Noel (Sapohoors) Johnson, 36, was a nursing student at Central Wyoming College in Riverton.
Federal Bureau of Investigation agents said Johnson, an enrolled member of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe, shot his wife over an argument about pain and fibromyalgia medications.
Neither Sapohoors nor the children were enrolled tribal members.
According to consistent statements by six of their eight children, three of them broke through the bedroom door after hearing Johnson fire the first shot, which missed, according to an FBI agent's affidavit. They lived in a residence on the Wind River Indian Reservation.
The children heard their mother screaming. They then saw Johnson raise the handgun and fire a shot that hit their mother in the side of the face. Johnson told the three children to get out of the way and keep out the younger children, according to the affidavit. "He then shoved past the three children, and quickly exited the house with an angry/sad expression on his face."
Some of the children said their parents had a history of violence.
Skavdahl recommended Johnson be placed in a prison as close to his family as possible so his physical and mental issues may be addressed.