Teen who killed father given 3.5 year juvenile detention sentence
TUMWATER, Wash. -- A Thurston County teenager accused of killing his father pleaded guilty to manslaughter Thursday.
Prosecutors say the then-13 year old shot Jimmy Asher Jr. to death last October while Asher was asleep. The man's girlfriend, who was asleep next to him with earplugs in, woke up to find him dead and covered in blood about 40 minutes later and called 911 in a panic.
The boy had claimed to the shooting was an accident, police said. But prosecutors said there was mounting evidence the shooting was intentional, including autopsy results showing that the father was shot at close range and there were other signs of premeditation.
After accepting the plea, a judge sentenced the boy to juvenile detention for three and a half years, but he could stay locked up until he's 21, depending on how he responds to treatment.
Prosecutors say the then-13 year old shot Jimmy Asher Jr. to death last October while Asher was asleep. The man's girlfriend, who was asleep next to him with earplugs in, woke up to find him dead and covered in blood about 40 minutes later and called 911 in a panic.
The boy had claimed to the shooting was an accident, police said. But prosecutors said there was mounting evidence the shooting was intentional, including autopsy results showing that the father was shot at close range and there were other signs of premeditation.
After accepting the plea, a judge sentenced the boy to juvenile detention for three and a half years, but he could stay locked up until he's 21, depending on how he responds to treatment.
3.5 years!!! OMG. While I understand he is a minor, this is a disappointing sentence. Washington State needs to change its laws. And if the parent did something to push this child to the edge, then KOMO should report that so the facts are clear. In anycase, murdering someone is not the answer.
Wow - three years. Â You can't say Washington liberal judges aren't tough on crime. Â Keep voting them back in!
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What a deterrent to others. Â Man, this will make killers think twice.
 @sentryoneÂ
Because of the youth's age (13) when it happened, the state was almost forced to
charge him as a minor. I too am disappointed with the sentence, but it is in line with
the current guidelines under Washington State law.
Had he been charged as an adult, the sentence might have actually fit the crime.
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like many people here, i'm shocked at the length of the sentence. but first, where did the boy get the gun? whose gun was it? who was responsible for the gun being accessible to the boy? come on, komo! you can do better than that!
@CIAassassin That info is available on a previous story (from last year, when it happened.)Â Though I have yet to see anything indicating a motive.
"The man's girlfriend, who was asleep next to him wearing earplugs" ???? Helllooooooooooo !!Â
 @LoJack Thinking the same thing, what's up with that.
Typical KOMO story- 90% of the details seem to be missing.
GOD WILL JUDGE
NO JUSTICE
MURDERER
story doesn't say why he shot the father. what is the back ground of the kid and father and the shooting?
So now we can plead to manslaughter in place of murder for absolutely no reason at all? Awesome message to send. Way to go Washington!
Hate to see what he would have received had he killed a cat.
ONLY 3.5 years??? Is that the value of life these days? This can only encourage other teens who hate their parents. If there was evidence of premeditation and intent, then WHY OH WHY only 3.5 years? The justice system in WA is one of the worst ones when it comes to murder. It seems like you can go out there, kill someone, then the worst that will happen is someone will pat your back and give you advice/treatment or you'll get a slap on the wrist.
If this kid can shoot someone in close range, cold blooded, then imagine what he will do when he's an adult. Shame on the justice system where there seems to be NO justice.
Holy cow. I am in disbelief. Come on, it's not like it was an accident that he killed his father. I could see MAYBE 3.5 for an accidental killing. But he MURDERED him. Our justice system is totally back a$swards.
 @Howbouthat I agree that 3.5 isn't enough for murder committed by a 13 year old, even if the 13 year old should have been committed, BUT, I'm seriously wondering about 3.5 years for accidental killing???
What the Heck! Treatment? Treatment has never worked and it never will. When your wired your wired.
Perfect! He'll be out just in time for 18 and a good, solid life of crime just ahead of him!
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And I'm guessing the father was a terrible snorer if the girlfriend was wearing ear plugs if it drowned out a gunshot.
Wow. What a message to send to other bad teens. Only 3.5 years if you kill your parent. No sweat! Â
I find it interesting that some have decided this young boy is a monster and what he should have gotten, how about asking what pushed him to do it? Ive learned that judging someone or a situation before you have all the facts is simply a waste of time.
After his 3.5 year juvenile detention sentence, this boy will have to live with this for the rest of his life.
Lovely. This mad dog killer will be out to kill again in just a few years.
Lesson learned? If you want to kill your dad, do it while you are young. Unbelieveable. His life is worth 3 and a half years. Wow.
Manslaughter?? Well, they got the slaughter right. And the girlfriend's earplugs? I work in construction and have worn tons of earplugs and none of them would of muffled a gun going off right next to my head. The whole thing reeks.Â