Judge ignores plea deal, gives max sentence to killer
SEATTLE -- A King County judge ignored a plea deal and threw the book at a killer Wednesday.
Ronald MacDonald had entered a modified guilty plea for strangling 80-year-old Arlene Roberts in 1978. The case went cold for 30 years until the sheriff's department reopened it.
Prosecutors agreed to have MacDonald plead guilty to second degree manslaughter, then walk free on time served.
But the judge said that would be a miscarriage of justice and gave MacDonald the maximum penalty of five years in prison.
"I'm glad the judge saw the case for what it was and held him accountable," said Det. Scott Tompkins with the King County Sheriff's Department. "It was a horrible crime. I'm glad we could get some resolution to it."
Prosecutors had offered MacDonald the plea deal in part because detectives at the crime scene did not wear gloves, which could have allowed defense attorney's to question DNA evidence found at the scene. MacDonald's alleged confession to the killing was also not recorded.
MacDonald, now 51, was tracked down last year when detectives with the the King County Sheriff's Office cold case unit were reviewing Roberts' murder. MacDonald's fingerprints were in a database from multiple arrests spanning more than two decades, and his prints came back as a match when detectives checked fingerprints collected at the murder scene.
Roberts' body was found at her home in the Lakeshore Manor Mobile Home Park at 11448 Rainier Ave South when neighbors who hadn't seen her in several days went to check on her. She was half-naked and her hands and feet were bound with nylon stockings and there was a gag in her mouth, according to investigators.
MacDonald entered an Alford plea, which is not an admission of guilt, but acknowledges that he likely would be convicted if the case went to trial.
Ronald MacDonald had entered a modified guilty plea for strangling 80-year-old Arlene Roberts in 1978. The case went cold for 30 years until the sheriff's department reopened it.
Prosecutors agreed to have MacDonald plead guilty to second degree manslaughter, then walk free on time served.
But the judge said that would be a miscarriage of justice and gave MacDonald the maximum penalty of five years in prison.
"I'm glad the judge saw the case for what it was and held him accountable," said Det. Scott Tompkins with the King County Sheriff's Department. "It was a horrible crime. I'm glad we could get some resolution to it."
Prosecutors had offered MacDonald the plea deal in part because detectives at the crime scene did not wear gloves, which could have allowed defense attorney's to question DNA evidence found at the scene. MacDonald's alleged confession to the killing was also not recorded.
MacDonald, now 51, was tracked down last year when detectives with the the King County Sheriff's Office cold case unit were reviewing Roberts' murder. MacDonald's fingerprints were in a database from multiple arrests spanning more than two decades, and his prints came back as a match when detectives checked fingerprints collected at the murder scene.
Roberts' body was found at her home in the Lakeshore Manor Mobile Home Park at 11448 Rainier Ave South when neighbors who hadn't seen her in several days went to check on her. She was half-naked and her hands and feet were bound with nylon stockings and there was a gag in her mouth, according to investigators.
MacDonald entered an Alford plea, which is not an admission of guilt, but acknowledges that he likely would be convicted if the case went to trial.
Judges name? Then I will vote for him next election.
Wow, really only 5 years?!?! This man, even if he serves his full sentence (he probably won't) will only be 56 when he gets out - plenty of life to live ahead of him. What about extra punishment for all those years he lived as a free man (or at least free of THIS conviction) and didn't come forward? I am so proud of the judge for giving him the max sentence, but seriously, something is wrong with a system that has a murderer in prison for a shorter amount of time than my cell phone contract!
Yes I do think that it's great that this judge cracked the whip HOWEVER why is this not done with all the scum that commit crime in the Rainier Beach area?? I bet you that there are A LOT more dangerous people in that area and all they get is a slap on the wrist because they had a hard life TOTAL SARCASM!!
Heck ya!!! Way to go Judge, the murdered person did not get a plea deal.
So let me get this straight. Back in 1978 the protocol at crime scenes for detectives was they were not required to wear gloves to investigate a crime scene and therefore this guy cannot go to trial? So what about all of the convicted criminals back then who are sitting in prison and the CSI did not wear gloves? That is a weak excuse to not convict and sentence this guy for murdering another human for more than 5 years.
Good for the judge to give him all the time he could. It's too bad that the better the criminal the less time they get. He killed someone he should receive at least life, if it was planned than the death sentence. This also why I think some controls should be taken away from prosecutors and judges and federal standard sentencing should be in place. There is no reason Gary Ridgeway should be living out a life sentence. He should have been put to death. If you plan a death (Murder 1) automatic death, 1 appeal and then off to the gurney. If an innocent person is put to death the prosecutor should be tried for murder. Just think about how our criminal non-justice system would be turned upside down. If you want change and hope it has to be throughout government procedures.
@4America2 I agree with some of what you said but do you really think prosecuters would prosecute murder 1 if they could be tried for murder if the person was ultimately found innocent? You were making sense up untl that point.
Yea, murder maybe a little crazy. maybe criminal misconduct? Something to prevent them from ignoring evidence and being over zealous and convicting innocent people.
Clearly, this fellow is not a very funny sort of clown!
Â
erm, I'm a little confused... Â
Â
Did the judge give him the "max penalty" for second degree manslaughter?  If so, doesn't RCW 9A.20.020 (Sentencing Guidelines for crimes committed before July 1, 1984) clearly states a class B felony (which I believe manslaughter in second degree is categorize under) is punishable by TEN years in prison or/and $20,000 fine?  Unless there are some legal issues with statue of limitations (which I don't think applies to homicide in any state in America) or manslaughter in second degree before July 1, 1984 was a class C felony.... =/Â
Â
Even if I am entirely wrong, I believe prison time was not the "maximum sentence" as KOMO writes.  Most "max punishments" for criminal offenses include fines, which this article never talks about.  What I mean is that: Murderer goes in jail, free food everyday provided by taxpayers, comes out and still keep all his assets? That isn't much of a deterrence if the judge actually gave out the "maximum sentence" o_0
Â
 @sabbametta Maybe he was given a 10 year sentence, but will only be jailed for 5 more years because of time served.Â
 @Asa possibly sentencing using the laws in effect at the time of the crime? I don't know. It does sounds like there is a bit more to the story than what is reported here.
Only *FIVE* years?
Â
Is his victim still dead?Â
Â
 He should be in prison as long as his victim is dead.
I have a better plan, we don't need the death penalty but we need a Governor that can stop these creeps. The law is already on the books, it's called the Governor's pardon. Someone, anyone kills this jerk and the Governor pardons them. No cost, the streets will be safe, and we will stop punishing victims. If the strangled lady was my grandmother I would wait the 5 years and kill that creep, then I would go to jail for doing what our weak government should do in the first place. I am so disgusted with the bleeding hearts in Olympia and the rest of America.
Any murderer deserves to go to prison for life, but if judges started doing this regularly, suspects won't take plea deals. No plea deals means more trials, higher costs, and fewer convictions.Â
That's what I was thinking.
OMG, REALLY, HE WAS ON THE LAMB FOR 30 YEARS????? WHY GO AFTER HIM NOW IF UR PRETTY MUCH GOING TO JUST GIVE HIM Â 5 YEARS????? HEY JAYWALKER, THAT JUST MEANS MORE ROOM FOR YOU WHEN YOUR CAUGHT!!!!! JUST PISSES ME OFF THAT MURDERS GET A SLAP ON THE WRIST AND MINOR CRIMES GET YEARS IN PRISON!!!!!!
and i know before anyone replies, jaywalkers only go to jail if they are caught and have warrants.......this whole thing just annoys me.....juvenile offenders get more times for the same crime
@Sally Boyer-Garl ".juvenile offenders get more times for the same crime" No they don't! Juvenile offenders get days, weeks or months, never years. Edward McMichaels (Tuba Man) killers were sentenced to 36 to 72 weeks and received credit for time served. The juvenile system is the most broken system there is. The Feds really need to step in and mandate the punishment for the convicted crime. It should no longer be up to local judges and prosecuters. If you commit a crime the punishment should be the same across all 50 states. Murder 1 should equal death, murder 2 Life with maybe a chance of parole after 40 years of actual time served. The Juvy courts need to follow in the same suit and quit this old era of rehabilitation mentality start handing out prison sentences appropriate to the crime.
Still too little too late!!
he will be out when he is 57 so he can rape and kill again and rob and do whatever he pleases as long as he reports once a week to his parole officer. there is no justice for the victims in america.
 @32jim2 I' hoping that they will back check his DNA against other unsolved cases that match his MO and that they will find something to put him away for the rest of his life.
MacDonald's fingerprints were in a database from multiple arrests spanning more than two decades, and his prints came back as a match when detectives checked fingerprints collected at the murder scene. This guy is a lifer and should have been in prison after he killed Roberts.this isn't manslaughter but  most likely rape and for sure murder. He should be given life.Â
The max....five years! Â Sort of anti-climatic. Â And a little weak. Â
just as Raymond implied I'm impressed that anyone can make $9458 in a few weeks on the internet. did you read this link
http://LazyCash49.com
Only 5 years? Seems like a slap on the wrist.
@Shelly Thats Washington's "Justice" system for yah.
Please forward the judges name...
Five Years? Had I known you can get such a light slap on the wrist, there are a few people I might have offed in the past. Justice! Thank you Judge, but our system is screwed up if all you get is five years for murder.
 @Tony Dowling That may have been five years after time served. He may have been sitting in prison waiting for this trial for years
 @Trisha Mulvahill  @Tony Dowling Not likely. If they only discovered the evidence against him last year, they could not have legally held him in prison for that long.
@Tony Dowling:Would you have rather the judge allowed the plea deal to stand & MacDonald walk? 5 years is not muc, but at least he is having to serve SOME sort of time.
No Mcdeal for this Ronald Macdonald. Too bad it's only 5 years though.Â
 @16biffle16 Sorry, replied to the wrong person. :)
5 years? What a joke! Put a bullet through his worthless skull!Â
 @Cooter_Brown Right, because violence solves everything. I can't believe how bloodthirsty you guys are. :P
@KieferSkunk Ventilating a criminal's cranial cavity with a couple bullets is a guarenteed method of preventing them from reoffending. But of course, chickenshlt bleeding hearts like you don't like that. So my proposal is to start releasing criminals at your house, and see how long it takes for you to change your tune.
 @SilverGryphon  @KieferSkunk We should work to change the system. I do also find vigilante speak off-putting, but I do want to see criminals punished and removed from society. I do not want to go around shooting them myself.
The judge is one of the two key people in this article and we don't even know his/her name. I for one would like to give my attaboys and future votes to judges to do the right thing.
You can live 30 feet under ground, and have no contact with the outside world for 30 years. But if your mind (which is the mouth of God) is guilty. Your life will be sustained mentally, physically, and emotionally until you pay your dues to the society that God created. He's lucky he only got 5 years for taking another life.
I want to see more of judges ignoring plea deals. Good news today, thank you to the judge.Â
The sentence should be the same thing as he did to his victim!!! Now that would be justice!!
 @SchönLicht Do the math. He was a juvenile when he committed the crime.
@I Like Meat Yeah, I was thinking about that. He would have been about 17 when he killed Arlene Roberts. I can't help but wonder if there are are other cold cases on the books that match his M.O. or Signature.  Hope he isn't turned loose too soon.
 @Smokin Bear Now that he is in the prison system, they will be to back check his DNA against other cold cases where there is DNA evidence still on record, hopefully they find a match that will prevent him from ever getting out and provide closure to a family or families who are still left wondering who killed their loved one(s).
A 5 years sentence is a joke when you are talking about the murder of a human being, that being said, kudos to the judge for doing all he could within the confines of the sentencing limits. I imagine the judge wishes the sentence could have been longer.
Yes! What is the name of this judge? We need a judge like this one who isn't soft on criminals.
what is the name of the judge??? Â I want to vote for him/her should they run for office!!!!
Sure, 5 years sucks as  a sentence for taking a life, but hats off to the judge for not letting him walk and giving him the maximum possible.
Holy moses, he's only 51? He looks like my dad and I am 48!
@Doxie He must have been living a hard life. Serves him right.
 @katiemcc  @Doxie No kidding!  Seriously, my dad died at 65 and he didn't look even close to that bad.  I hope this turdbucket HAS had a hard life.
 @alaska_dreamin Fingers crossed!
 @Doxie With any luck he will expire before his sentence does.