PLATTSBURGH — Chad Nichols will serve three to six years in prison for disposing of Jahfari Joseph’s body in a remote area of Franklin County after he was murdered late last year.

As previously reported by the Press-Republican, Timothy Timmons was found guilty in October of second-degree murder for shooting and killing Joseph at his ex-wife’s house at 646 Fuller Road in Peru on Dec. 29, 2024.

During the murder trial of Timmons, Nichols testified that Timmons instructed him to dispose of Joseph’s body when he ran into him at Walmart a couple days after the murder.

Nichols, of Vermontville, said on the stand that he agreed to dispose of Joseph’s body and traveled to Franklin County to do so. He said he parked a couple miles down Route 26 and put Joseph’s body, covered in a tarp, down an embankment and then disposed of the carpet he used to roll up the body farther down the road.

Joseph’s body was found Feb. 13. Nichols was arrested and charged soon after.

As part of a plea agreement with the District Attorney’s Office, Nichols pleaded guilty to a first-degree hindering prosecution charge Sept. 18.

Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie asked Judge Keith M. Bruno on Tuesday to honor the previous plea offer and sentence of Nichols to three to six years. Because of a prior arrest and sentencing for a first-degree criminal contempt charge in 2022, Nichols was also considered a second felony offender ahead of sentencing.

“He was cooperative with New York State Police and the Clinton County District Attorney’s office. He came forth and testified in the trial of People v. Timothy Timmons that resulted in Mr. Timmons’ conviction for the murder of Jahfari Joseph,” Wylie said.

“I think he was truthful and forthright in his testimony and his cooperation with the people, and, therefore, the people would honor our plea agreement that was entered into.”

Ahead of sentencing, Nichols declined the opportunity to speak, and Bruno swiftly honored the negotiated plea agreement and sentenced him to three to six years in prison.

As it stands, Wylie said Nichols has already been sentenced to a prison term in Franklin County Court but is awaiting a sentencing in Essex County Court.

The sentence, handed down in Clinton County Court on Tuesday, will run concurrent with any sentence imposed from other county courts, Bruno said.

In addition to the prison sentence, Nichols was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, a $300 mandatory surcharge, a $25 crime victim fee and a $50 mandatory DNA registration fee for a total amount of $1,375.