Pierce County woman guilty in pellet-gun death Man sentenced for stealing 9K clarinet

Nicole Lynn Johnson, a 49-year-old woman, has pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter after fatally shooting her boyfriend, Ricky Albers, with a pellet gun during a heated argument in Graham, Washington, on May 1, 2024. The court found that Johnson's actions constituted criminal negligence, as she claimed she was unaware that the pellet gun was loaded when she fired it at Albers, resulting in a fatal injury to his lung. Prosecutors are recommending a sentence of two years and nine months, which includes a 12-month enhancement for using a deadly weapon, with sentencing scheduled for March 11, 2025. In a separate case, a 25-year-old man received a six-month jail sentence for stealing a $9,000 clarinet from a Tacoma music store and attempting to sell it at pawn shops. He also pleaded guilty to domestic violence-related burglary and possessing a stolen firearm belonging to a family member.

The judge offered him a drug offender sentencing alternative, which allows for treatment in lieu of confinement. The clarinet, which was handmade in Paris, was returned undamaged to its owner, who expressed relief at its recovery. These cases highlight ongoing issues of domestic violence and crime in the Pierce County area.