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Fredrickson sentenced to five to 20 years
June 23, 2008, 11:55 am
As Judge John Stegner sentenced Zachary A. Fredrickson to no more than 20 years in prison, with the possibility of parole at five years, onlookers interrupted with shouts of “You’ve got to be kidding” and “Five years for a life?”
Meanwhile, people on Fredrickson’s side of the courtroom sobbed.
Fredrickson, 18, of Troy, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in April after a last-minute plea deal. He had pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges in September and was scheduled to stand trial just after the deal was struck.
Fredrickson shot Johnson, 23, with a .22-caliber rifle after an argument at party on June 30 in Troy. Witnesses reported Fredrickson was enraged because Johnson was teasing him about his brother’s football skills.
After shooting Johnson, Fredrickson put the barrel of the rifle under his own chin and shot himself. He was taken into custody July 4 after he was released from Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d’Alene.
Johnson’s parents, Greg and Sandy Johnson of Troy, asked Stegner to sentence Fredrickson to life in prison.
Sandy Johnson addressed Fredrickson and his family from the stand, saying her son “was not a perfect little angel, but he never would have shot anybody.”
“Two families will have each lost a son, but we have lost a son forever, so I think it should be life for you as well,” she said.
Fredrickson tearfully addressed the courtroom before his sentencing. He apologized to Johnson’s parents and brother and took full responsibility for his crime.
“I’m sorry for everything. I’m sorry to the community and I’ve totally shattered it and broken it apart,” he said. “I’m sorry to my own family. I am sorry for just everything I did.”
For updates on this story, visit DNews.com or see Tuesday's edition of the Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
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