Because Dale John Brodahl didn’t stop his Jeep when he struck a pedestrian June 2, he earned himself at least three years in prison.
Brodahl, 25, of Marysville, pleaded guilty Wednesday to a hit-and-run accident that killed Jonathan McCamey, 22.
Brodahl told police he had been on his way to a drug deal when his 1997 Jeep Cherokee struck McCamey on 51st Avenue NE in Arlington.
He didn’t stop to cooperate with authorities and give aid to the victim, a violation of the law.
The sentencing range for the crime is between three and four years behind bars. Deputy Prosecutor Paul Stern said he will recommend a term somewhere in the middle, partly because Brodahl pleaded guilty early in the proceeding.
Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Ronald Castleberry will sentence Brodahl Aug. 17.
Brodahl told police he was driving a friend from Arlington to Marysville to buy methamphetamine when he saw someone moving in the roadway, court documents said.
“The next thing I know it was just like whack,” papers said. He told police that he had no time to take evasive action.
Brodahl said he knew he’d hit a person and slowed, but did not stop, because he was in “shock,” papers said. Brodahl then went to Marysville, where he took meth, documents said.
McCamey’s body was found in the road at 4:40 a.m. June 2, about three hours after he was seen leaving a cafe in Arlington a block away.
Arlington police received a tip about a gold Jeep Cherokee with fresh front-end damage. They matched the damage to evidence left at the scene.
After he was arrested, Brodahl told police he heard that a man was killed in the hit-and-run accident, and he expressed remorse, documents said.
This is the second killing with links to the defendant. In April 2002, Brodahl helped his brother clean up after the beating and stabbing of Brady Sheary in Marysville, court records show.
Brodahl was convicted of misdemeanors, including rendering criminal assistance, and served months in the Marysville jail.
He remained locked up in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or haley@heraldnet.com.
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