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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Another wolf makes its way into Southern Oregon ... Our View: Let Medford voters decide on marijuana sales ... Reopening of the Siskiyou Line means trucking companies will take a hit ... Another wolf makes its way into Southern Oregon ... Our View: Let Medford voters decide on marijuana sales ... Reopening of the Siskiyou Line means trucking companies will take a hit ... CRIME Transient who shot girlfriend for nagging in Rogue River convicted of murder Comment By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted May. 14, 2015 at 5:08 PM Updated May 15, 2015 at 9:31 AM By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted May. 14, 2015 at 5:08 PM Updated May 15, 2015 at 9:31 AM » Social News A 43-year-old man will spend at least 25 years in prison for murdering his girlfriend in Rogue River the night after Halloween in 2013. Jurors Thursday took about four hours to convict Robert Joseph Simonson of murder for shooting to death 52-year-old Kimberly Ann Staack in the early hours of Nov. 1, 2013, inside a Rogue River apartment the two transients shared. Jackson County Circuit Judge Kim Ravassipour imposed the mandatory sentence of life in prison, with a mandatory 25-year minimum before he qualifies for parole under Oregon sentencing laws. In a trial that began Monday, prosecutors in the case called Staack a "mean drunk" who ruthlessly badgered Simonson for hours the night before he fired a warning shot at the floor then deliberately fired one round from the black-powder pistol into Staack's head. Defense attorney Donald Scales told jurors that a drunken and sleep-deprived Simonson was "stupid" and "reckless" when he pointed the gun near Staack only "to put the ringing in her ears," but tragically shot her. The case hinged on whether jurors believed Simonson intended to kill Staack when he fired the fatal shot — a key legal threshold differentiating murder from manslaughter under Oregon law. The jurors unanimously chose murder after the trial in which Simonson did not take the stand. However, several interviews with Simonson were introduced, showing his account of the shooting changed repeatedly. Chief Deputy District Attorney Jeremy Markiewicz said interviews with Jackson County sheriff's Capt. Nathan Sickler and now-retired Detective Steve Holtus were instrumental in the jury's verdict. In the interviews, Simonson initially called the shooting a suicide then changed it to various versions of a struggle over the weapon before reaching his final story of the shot accidentally hitting Staack in the head when he intended only to scare her into leaving him alone. "That was the key to the whole case — his interviews," Markiewicz said. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 541-776-4470 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/MTwriterFreeman . Correction : The wrong mugshot ran with an earlier version. By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted May. 14, 2015 at 5:08 PM Updated May 15, 2015 at 9:31 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501