Murderer sentenced to 16 years

A Marysville woman who shot and killed her boyfriend in August was sentenced to 16 years in prison Monday.

Maryann Elizabeth Scales, 46, claimed that it was an accident when she brandished J. Darwin Owensby’s pistol, which she unexpectedly found in a utensil drawer of a motor home they shared.

Jurors convicted Scales of second-degree murder in May, and she could have been sentenced to more than 20 years behind bars under state law. Deputy prosecutor John Stansell asked for about 19 years.

Pete Mazzone, defense attorney, sought the low end of the sentencing range, about 15 years.

Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Larry McKeeman noted that Scales had no previous criminal history, and said that it appears alcohol was the root of the troubles between Owensby and Scales.

In addition, he said it appeared the shooting was unintentional, deserving a sentence toward the low end of the sentencing range, he said.

Although she didn’t intend to shoot Owensby, the shooting was murder because the jury found that she was assaulting him just by pointing the pistol in his direction.

Scales testified that her teenage son had been accidentally shot years ago and she disliked guns for that reason. She knew Owensby had a pistol, but she insisted that he lock it away.

She also testified that Owensby had told her previously the gun wouldn’t go off by accident because of the safety. A gun expert testified at trial, however, that the gun had no safety.

After the shooting, Scales went first to a friend’s house and then drove to a nearby fire station.

The two shared a longtime but sometimes stormy relationship, according to evidence at the trial.

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