In 1989, Niles was sentenced to life imprisonment for orchestrating the murder of his wife in a 1984 shooting.
Early life
Niles was the second youngest of 13 children and his dad died when he was an infant.[1] When he was aged 8, he broke both of his legs when he fell off a bike.[2] Niles' mother died when he was 12 and he became an orphan who endured homelessness and slept in alleyways.[1] He joined an inner-city gang the following year.[2] Niles developed a reputation for an intimidating hardness which was forged from years of fending for himself.[1]
Niles attended Jefferson High School in Los Angeles, California, and was a multi-sport standout.[2] He was selected as most valuable player for the basketball team during his senior season when Jefferson won the city championship.[2]
In 1975, Niles was mistakenly identified as a suspect in a robbery at a Fullerton supermarket.[2] He was involved in an altercation with two security guards which left him with a broken jaw, a broken rib, permanent bumps over his head and a gash on his right forearm that was so severe he almost lost his arm.[2] Niles was later cleared by authorities.[2]
College career
Niles did not attempt to enter college until two years after his graduation from high school.[2] He was recommended to enrol at California State University, Fullerton by a cousin because of its Equal Opportunities Program.[2] Niles played college basketball for the Cal State Fullerton Titans.[1] He averaged 12.4 points per game during his three seasons.[3] Niles was removed from the team before his senior year because of academic troubles and did not graduate.[1]
Professional career
Niles was selected in the fourth round of the 1979 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers.[2] He began his career with the Lancaster Red Roses of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA).[2] Niles requested to get medical care in Los Angeles for a badly sprained ankle but was suspended and eventually released when he attempted to rejoin the team.[2] He returned to Los Angeles where he pushed himself to a daily routine which consisted of running 5 miles and playing basketball for numerous hours.[2]
Niles then attended training camp with the Phoenix Suns where he impressed the team with his hustle and stamina.[1] Niles was offered a one-year contract to play for the Suns in 1980.[1] He averaged 2.6 points and 1.3 rebounds per game during his one season with the Suns.[1]
Murder of Sonja Niles
Niles married his college sweetheart, Sonja, and they rented a home in Corona, California.[1] Sonja worked as a prison guard at the California Institution for Women.[1] Struggling to find work after his basketball career, Niles was frustrated that his wife was supporting him and grew jealous of her career.[1]
On December 13, 1984, Niles orchestrated a plan to kill Sonja and offered a $5,000 reward from a $100,000 insurance policy.[1] He met an armed gang member, Noel "No-No" Jackson, and left him in his Corona house.[1] Niles feigned an argument with Sonja after she returned home from work and stormed out.[1] While Niles waited outside, Jackson took Sonja by surprise and she ran out of the house.[1] Jackson caught up with her across the street and shoved the barrel of his 12-gauge shotgun against the back of her skull; the force of the blast blew Sonja's head off.[1] A neighbor recognised Niles' car as it drove off from the scene.[1] Niles was arrested the following day.[4]
During the trial, Niles and Jackson accused each other of the murder;[3] Jackson's jury found that he was the gunman.[5] A friend of Niles testified that he wanted Sonja killed because she had "messed with him when he was playing basketball."[5] On January 24, 1989, Niles was convicted for the murder of Sonja.[3] Jackson was also convicted of murder and sentenced to death.[5] Jurors were shown highlights from Niles' basketball career in an attempt to save him from the death penalty.[6] Niles was spared from the death penalty but was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.[1]
Personal life
Niles' son from a previous relationship, Brandon, was an infant when Niles left him.[1] Brandon did not know what had happened to his father until he found out about Niles' conviction for murder in 1989.[1] On September 26, 1992, Brandon was fatally shot by an unidentified assailant while he talked to his girlfriend at a phone booth.[1]
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