Nautica Cox sentenced to maximum

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – On Monday, Olmsted County Judge Christa Daily sentenced 25-year-old Nautica Cox to the maximum prison term after pleading guilty to three charges.

Cox will serve 360 ​​months in prison for his involvement in the murder of Todd Banks Jr.

Todd Banks Jr. of Minneapolis was shot near 1st Ave. in June 2021. and 3 St. SW, Rochester.

Derrick Days, 29, of St. Paul was charged and convicted of Banks Jr.’s murder. in March 2023.

The legal proceedings opened with victim statements from Laneice Bryant, Banks Jr.’s mother. She asked the judge to impose a maximum sentence on Cox for the crimes committed.

“There is not enough time Cox can spend in jail to bring my son back,” Bryant said.

State’s Attorney Eric Woodford said he believed the killing “very likely could be a double homicide” after an additional victim was also injured in the shooting.

Woodford and his team asked for a maximum prison sentence for the charges against Cox.

John Brooks represented Cox in court and agreed to the state’s recommended maximum sentence after entering a guilty plea in September.

Cox pleaded guilty to three charges:

• Count 2 – Aid & Abet Second Degree Murder (No Intention)
• Count 3: First degree assault by Aid & Abet
• Count 4 – Ineligible Possession of a Firearm

Count three will be served simultaneously with counts two and four; beat two is served consecutively with beat three.

Cox stood to address the court. He apologized and expressed the regret he felt after his actions and said Bryant “should never have to bury her son.”

“I apologize for my actions. I know (Ms. Bryant) cannot forgive me today, but I hope you can eventually,” Cox said.

Judge Daily addressed the court before sentencing. She stated that the courts are seeking “justice, not fairness” regarding Bryant and her late son.

After the sentencing, Bryant was asked if she felt justice had been served for her and her family.

“I mean, all I could do was accept what the judge gave them. I mean, I want more, but he had some sympathy or something, and he felt sorry for him,” Bryant said. “Justice has been done, you know. I just have to leave the rest in God’s hands.”

In addition, Cox must pay more than $7,000 in restitution fines.

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