Two Post Falls men sentenced for stealing gun used to kill CDA Police Sgt. Greg Moore

Two Post Falls men who stole the gun that later was used to kill Coeur d’Alene Police Sgt. Greg Moore have been sentenced in federal court in Idaho.

U.S. District Court Judge Edward Lodge on Wednesday sentenced Nicholace C. Thomas, 23, to two years in prison. Lodge also sentenced Donald E. Shuck, 33, to 200 hours of community services and five years of probation for his role as an accessory in the theft.

According to court records, Thomas and Shuck broke into vehicles in the Post Falls area on April 24, 2015.

“Thomas stole a firearm from a vehicle and showed it to Shuck, who then drove them from the area,” U.S. Attorney Bart Davis said in a news release. “Thomas later traded the firearm to a third party for methamphetamine.”

Some 12 days after the theft, Jonathan D. Renfro used the stolen gun to shoot and kill Sgt. Greg Moore on May 5, 2015. Renfro was sentenced to death in November 2017 for killing Moore.

Thomas was indicted on the federal charge in July 2018.

The investigation that led to the convictions of Thomas and Shuck were conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, Idaho State Police, Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office and the police departments of Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene.

At the sentencing, Federal Defender Amy Rubin asked Lodge to sentence Thomas to time served. Rubin noted that Thomas has already served 30 months based on state charges relating to the same burglary.

“After four years, Nicholace is ready to put this matter behind him,” Rubin wrote. “Had this case been prosecuted in April 2015, Mr. Thomas would have had the opportunity to serve both of these cases concurrently. The delay of four years has cost Mr. Thomas tremendously.”

As part of the plea agreement, Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryce Ellsworth wrote that Thomas “knew the firearm and ammunition were stolen at the time that he possessed” them.

Renfro was out seeking property to steal when Moore encountered him in a Coeur d’Alene neighborhood and confronted him. Moore asked Renfro if he had anything in his pocket. Inside was the gun that Thomas had stolen. Renfro fired from his pocket and the bullet struck Moore in the face.

On Nov. 3, 2017, Renfro testified for the first time. He told the jury that convicted him of first-degree murder that he would accept whatever fate they chose for him.

“I’ve taken the life of a man who was much greater than I am. I can never fix that. Not only have I destroyed that family, I’ve destroyed my own family,” he said.