CAMANO ISLAND — An Island County judge ordered a Snohomish man to be locked up for 14 years for a series of attacks on his partner and the couple’s son.
Donald E. Clark, 32, received the exceptionally long sentence earlier this week after pleading guilty to second-degree assault, unlawful imprisonment, making death threats and violating a protection order.
Clark was accused of strangling his partner and imprisoning her and their 8-year-old son in April.
He’d recently been released from a nearly-four year stint in prison for repeatedly violating no-contact orders involving the woman, according to Island County prosecutors.
Clark was being held in Island County Jail while awaiting trial for the new offenses. While there, he allegedly attacked a fellow inmate and broke the man’s rib. He was charged with another count of second degree assault.
The maximum sentence is 10 years in prison. Prosecutors argued for an exceptionally long sentence, emphasizing that the Camano Island assault happened in front of a child.
The prosecutors said a special provision of the law permits a judge to exceed the statutory maximum by ordering the sentences for each charge to run one after another, instead of simultaneously.
Clark agreed with the 14-year recommendation in exchange for the dismissal of another charge, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors dismissed an allegation that Clark also assaulted his son. The plea agreement saved the boy from having to testify against his father.
“The boy has been through enough,” Island County chief deputy prosecutor Colleen Kenimond said.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463, hefley@heraldnet.com.
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