Murderer's sentence doubled

A judge has doubled the life sentence for convicted killer David Mitchell, who murdered Sheila Jo Harris in 1982.

Mitchell, 63, was convicted in August 2007 of one count of first degree murder with use of a deadly weapon.

The jury sentenced Mitchell to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder charge and the trial judge imposed an additional consecutive sentence of eight to 20 years for the use of a deadly weapon.

The enhancement was in line with a 2007 Legislative change that limited enhancement sentences. Previously the law would double the sentence.

In 2008, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled that enhancements should not apply retroactively.

Since Mitchell's crime was committed before the law change, District Court Judge James T. Russell filed an order last week that Mitchell be sentenced to another, consective sentence of life without the possibility of parole.

Mitchell, a native of Trinidad, is in Ely State Prison.

"We all felt this would basically eliminate any possibility in our mind that this guy would ever see the light of day," said Assistant District Attorney Gerald Gardner on why the District Attorney's Office filed a motion for a new sentencing. That motion prompted Russell to take a look at the Supreme Court ruling change in relation to Mitchell's sentence.

"The more life sentences that we can have stacked up against this guy, the better chances we felt he truly would never get out of prison," Gardner said.