Moore receives 9 years in prison for role in death of Heather Garraus

Shawna Nelson's best friend who pled guilty to conspiracy to commit first degree murder was sentenced to 9 years in prison today.

Moore, 27, was originally charged with conspiracy to commit murder and criminal attempt to commit first-degree murder of Heather Garraus. Moore agreed to a plea deal of a lesser charge in return for testifying against Nelson in her trial and a lighter sentence.

Weld District Judge James Hartmann Jr. said Moore empowered Nelson by giving her advice on how to commit and cover up the murder. Moore testified in Nelson's trial that she had advised Nelson on how to plant evidence at the scene of the crime and witnessed Nelson describe her hate for Garraus.

"Frankly consider yourself lucky that you're not spending the rest of your life in prison," said Hartmann who sentenced Moore to the maximum of 9 years in the department of corrections and three years mandatory probation.

Nelson, a former police dispatcher, was found guilty by a jury of the murder of Garraus, the wife of Ignacio Garraus who Nelson had an affair with and had his child. Nelson was sentenced to life in prison.