An ex-convict who shot and killed a woman with a shotgun in 1997 apparently will remain in prison for a few months, despite courts throwing out his second-degree murder conviction.
Snohomish County Superior Court Judge James Allendoerfer Thursday reinstated a first-degree manslaughter conviction, which could keep Paris D. Perrantes jailed for up to another six months.
Still, the term is far short of the 26-year sentence for murder that Allendoerfer imposed in 1997. Perrantes had eight prior drug and property-crime convictions.
His murder conviction was for brandishing a loaded shotgun, which discharged and killed Lorraine Mary Wood, 47, of Everett. The incident happened when Perrantes ordered Wood and some other women out of his home.
In his trial, a jury found Perrantes guilty of both manslaughter and murder. The murder charge was filed under the theory that the death was unintentional, and it happened during an assault.
In 2002, the Supreme Court threw out one King County case of unintentional murder. In 2004, it made the case retroactive, affecting scores of other murder convictions around the state.
Perrantes’ murder conviction, and those of 14 other Snohomish County defendants, was thrown out. Cases have come back to local courts with a variety of outcomes, including new trials.
In Perrantes’ case, the state Court of Appeals also disallowed the lesser manslaughter conviction in late 1997, saying someone can’t be convicted of two homicide charges in just one death because of double jeopardy.
Deputy prosecutor Seth Fine argued Thursday in court that a jury once convicted Perrantes of manslaughter. The only reason the appeals court disallowed it in 1997 was the double jeopardy.
Public defender Donald Wackerman argued that Perrantes should be freed now because higher courts at different times have thrown out both the murder and manslaughter convictions.
“At this point, the state doesn’t have the ability to bring back either conviction,” Wackerman told the judge.
Fine responded, “There’s no reason Mr. Perrantes should walk off without a conviction after a jury found him guilty of two crimes.”
Allendoerfer agreed that Perrantes shouldn’t receive a “windfall” by ignoring the 1997 manslaughter jury finding.
Allendoerfer will sentence him Aug. 15. Under law, a 10-year term is the maximum he can get. With time off for good behavior, Fine said, Perrantes would be out in about six months if the judge imposes the maximum.
Wackerman said he’ll appeal Allendoerfer’s decision.
Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or haley@heraldnet.com.
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