EVERETT — Thomas Clark’s days as a free man may be forever over.
On Tuesday, at the age of 71, Clark was sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison for a shooting in Lake Stevens that severely injured his roommate, a woman who thought of Clark as a father figure.
“This sentence may become a life sentence for him, despite that he wanted to resolve the case as soon as possible,” defense attorney Jason Weiss said Tuesday.
Clark pleaded guilty last month to first-degree domestic violence assault with a weapon. He faced up to 15 years in prison. Five years of his sentence are for his use of a gun under the state’s “hard time for armed crime” law.
Clark never denied shooting his roommate in the stomach with a two-shot Derringer pistol. He told police he wanted to teach the woman a lesson.
The roommates had a falling out about a week before the May 28 shooting. Police were told that Clark was angry about a minor dispute over mowing the lawn. The woman, 49, reported that Clark grabbed her arm and was threatening. His reaction was out of proportion to the dispute, she said.
Clark was arrested for investigation of domestic violence and jailed. He was released the next day. The woman obtained a protection order to keep Clark away.
Clark later complained that he’d been prohibited from collecting his DVD player or television after his arrest, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Scott Halloran wrote.
The day of the shooting the woman and her friend were reviewing some paperwork when they heard a knock at the door. They saw that Clark was outside, and the woman started to call 911 to report Clark’s violation of the no-contact order.
He walked into the kitchen, pulled out the Derringer and aimed it at the woman’s head, according to court papers. She tried to move as Clark tilted the barrel down and pulled the trigger, Halloran wrote.
Clark dropped the wooden-handled pistol on the counter, walked outside to the porch, sat down and began to roll a cigarette.
He warned the first officers on scene that he had a small knife in his pocket. He also said he’d shot the woman in front of her friend.
“I’ll be as helpful as I can. There’s no denying what I did,” Clark said.
The woman attended Tuesday’s hearing. The shooting has had a dramatic impact on her life, Halloran said.
“I would like to apologize to (the victim). It was the wrong thing to do,” Clark said.
Superior Court Judge George Bowden ordered Clark never to contact the woman again.
“You had reasons for your conduct. They weren’t good reasons, obviously,” Bowden said.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
