Tearful Father Pleads Guilty to Killing Son, Beating Wife

After an emotional breakdown that delayed proceedings, a San Diego man pleaded guilty Tuesday to killing his 18-year-old son during an attack on his estranged wife.

Nolan Paul Jackson Sr., 37, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He shot his son, Nolan Jr., twice May 4 as the youth attempted to protect his mother after Jackson ignored a court order and forced his way into the house.

Jackson also pleaded guilty to premeditated attempted murder for beating his wife, Beverly Jackson. Beverly Jackson testified two months ago that he continued to chase and pistol-whip her after he had shot his son.

Superior Court Judge Charles R. Hayes stopped the hearing after Jackson lost his composure and was unable to continue. When the proceedings resumed hours later, Jackson broke into tears and had to be comforted by his attorney, Juliana Humphrey.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Kerry Wells said the mother agreed to a plea bargain to spare her two surviving sons from testifying.

“They’re suffering from nightmares and having a difficult time,” Wells said of the family members.

Cedric Jackson, 9, and Jeremiah Jackson, 13, were at the family’s Logan Heights home when their father terrorized the family. Both would have been called to the witness stand had the case proceeded to a trial, which was scheduled for next week.

Jeremiah scared his father away--and possibly saved his mother’s life--when he fired more than a dozen BBs from an air rifle as his father pummeled Beverly Jackson.

Hayes will sentence Jackson on Oct. 1. The second-degree murder conviction carries a mandatory penalty of 15 years to life in prison, and the guilty plea to attempted murder carries a sentence of life in prison.