Middle man in Waukesha County murder for hire case sentenced to life in prison



A Waukesha County judge says even though Jack Johnson didn't kill Kimberly Smith of Oconomowoc with his own hands. That's why the judge sentenced Johnson to life in prison without parole.

Johnson was the middle man between the boyfriend of Smith's ex-boyfriend, Darren Wold, and the man who killed her.

Johnson was found guilty of homicide along with his friend Wold. Johnson was convicted of hiring hitman Justin Welch to carry out Smith's murder. Welch eventually testified against both men.

Johnson only had a few words during his sentencing hearing. "Things seem the way they are, aren't necessarily the way they were. That's all I can say."

Without the option of the death penalty in Wisconsin, family and friends of Kimberly Smith asked a judge to send Johnson to prison for life. The judge agreed with the family and sentenced Johnson to life in prison without parole.