Staff Report

Nolen Buchanan, a Benicia resident who last month was found guilty of murdering family members, received a sentence of 150 years in prison by the El Dorado County Superior Court on Thursday. However, since he was a minor when he committed the crimes, he could be eligible for parole in 25 years, per Senate Bill 394.

In Sept. 2015, Buchanan, then 16, shot his father Adam, father’s fiancee Molly McAfee and half-brother Gavin at the family’s cabin in Greenwood before burning the house to the ground. Adam was the president of Buchanan Construction on East 2nd Street, and Gavin was a third-grader at Joe Henderson Elementary School. Nolen returned home to Benicia, where he continued to attend classes at Benicia High School until Oct. 1 when detectives removed him from class and arrested him.

After a trial period that lasted nearly three years, an El Dorado County jury found Nolen guilty on three counts of first-degree murder with multiple enhancements for the use of a firearm. He was sentenced to 150 years in prison, but will be up for parole in 25 years in accordance with SB394. The bill, signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in Oct. 2017, gives people who committed a crime when they were under the age of 18 a chance to earn parole, which can be approved or denied by a parole board. Nolen Buchanan can appeal the decision within 60 days, per federal appellate rules.

Sharing is caring!