Arlington-area man gets 7½ years for fatal machete attack

EVERETT — More than 20 people packed a courtroom this week for a sentencing in a machete attack that killed Scotty Sass, of the Arlington area.

Sass’ family members expressed anger and frustration Monday that Mark Abrahamson Jr., 31, had pleaded guilty last month to first-degree manslaughter. The defendant was originally charged with second-degree murder for the attack on his roommate in June 2021.

“Scotty was murdered horrifically, just a few days before Father’s Day,” his mother Lynn Sass said in court. “It totally broke the hearts of not only his children, but our whole family — everyone who loved him … yesterday was the Super Bowl, my son’s favorite day. The fact that he was not with us was horrifying and felt by everybody in the room.”

Under state guidelines, the defendant faced 6½ to 8½ years behind bars.

On the evening of June 16, 2021, Abrahamson killed Sass, 51, in their yard during an argument over a wheelbarrow, according to charging papers.

Abrahamson had been inside the house with his girlfriend when they reportedly heard Sass yelling in the yard. Sass was spreading gravel with a shovel, rakes and a handcart, the charges say. The older roommate was angry he had to use the cart because his wheelbarrow was missing, and he blamed Abrahamson, according to the charges. The girlfriend tried to intervene, but she was reportedly pushed aside. Abrahamson swung a machete and struck Sass’ neck, the charges say.

The defendant called 911, saying he’d used a machete in a fight and the other person was injured. Snohomish County sheriff’s deputies arrived to find Sass’s body in the gravel.

Abrahamson was booked into the Snohomish County Jail on June 17, 2021.

Defense attorney Natalie Tarantino wrote in a sentencing memorandum that Abrahamson feels “terrible guilt for the events that unfolded that day even though his actions were motivated by protecting himself and (his girlfriend) from imminent harm.”

“Plea negotiations and resolution of the case were entirely at (the defendant’s) insistence,” Tarantino wrote.

Abrahamson expressed remorse Monday.

“I know there’s no words that can change the way things are,” Abrahamson said. “To the family of Scotty Sass: I’m eternally, eternally sorry for what my defensive actions led to … You all have every right to hate me, but I hope you all understand I am a loving father to two boys, a friend to lots of the community and a loyal, loving fiance.”

Deputy prosecutor Matt Hunter acknowledged the family’s disappointment at Monday’s hearing. He said he may also be angry if he were in their shoes. The prosecutor explained there was no doubt Abrahamson killed Sass, but anticipated testimony in the case changed “materially” after the defendant was charged.

“As it ended up, the only substantive testimony would have been from (the girlfriend) — and possibly the defendant if he chose to testify,” Hunter told the courtroom. “The victim was holding the shovel, cocked back, ready to swing it at the moment he was killed: That would have been the testimony.”

Hunter would have needed to disprove self-defense or defense of another.

Second-degree murder would have been the least likely verdict in the trial, Hunter said, noting the jury may have found Sass guilty of lesser charges.

“The state got the second-best alternative,” Hunter said. “I think it’s a good outcome for the state. I think it actually would have been irresponsible of me to have not made the agreement.”

Hunter and Tarantino agreed to recommend a prison sentence at the low end of the standard range.

Sass’ eldest daughter Kayla addressed the courtroom Monday, pleading the judge to hand down a longer prison term.

“Six-and-a-half years is not enough,” the daughter said. “That’s not justice for my dad’s life being stolen. That’s not justice for murdering a man. Thieves get more time than that. It’s a slap on the wrist for one of the worst crimes. The safety of our community is at risk.”

Judge Bruce Weiss told the family he understood how they felt.

“I absolutely understand your thoughts, your mistrust in the system,” Weiss said.

The judge went on to say a relative by marriage was killed in Snohomish County many years ago. That case looked similar to what happened in Sass’ case, the judge told the court.

The prosecutor’s office determined they could not disprove self-defense, Weiss said, and they never even charged the case.

“In this case, they’ve charged the defendant,” Weiss said. “You can believe and you can conclude that he murdered Mr. Sass. I’m not telling you that’s not accurate from your position. I’m telling you, from my experience as a judge and as an attorney, that juries do many things that you disagree with.”

The judge imposed a sentence of 7½ years.

Ellen Dennis: 425-339-3486; edennis@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @reporterellen.