Comments on: West Seattle Crime Watch: 10-year sentence for Donald Plute

By: Eric

Eric — Sat, 05 Apr 2014 17:46:18 +0000

Maybe what Mr. Plute needs is a hot chocolate and a hug instead…..never mind, I like the 10 years in prison better

By: tophat topcat

tophat topcat — Sat, 05 Apr 2014 16:38:43 +0000

Since this POS has been locked up our apt. complex has had no more cars broken into or bikes stolen. Have a good time in prison Plute!! Hope your children don’t grow up to be like you.

By: skeptic

skeptic — Sat, 05 Apr 2014 16:27:29 +0000

Mr. Plute could have easily killed someone during his high speed run away from the SPD. He needs a nice cell to live in to keep him away from the rest of us.

By: Beth

Beth — Sat, 05 Apr 2014 16:01:50 +0000

Great reporting Tracy.
Re: Plute all I will say is, “next.”

By: Eric

Eric — Sat, 05 Apr 2014 04:24:24 +0000

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get all that about the sentencing. The problem I have is the implication from the judge that they would have given a lower sentence had they the discretion or in more plain language, the freedom to do so

By: wscommuter

wscommuter — Sat, 05 Apr 2014 02:58:51 +0000

Sentences in WA for felonies are essentially set by a grid – the vertical axis counts the “Seriousness level” (from 1-10) of the crime (i.e., low level theft is a “1” and 1st degree homicide is a “10”). The horizontal axis is the “offender score”, where the individual’s prior felony history adds up as “points” (you get one point for each felony, but certain serious felonies get multiplied). By matching the seriousness level and the offender score, the grid provides a “sentencing range” which the judge is required to sentence within, except in rare, specific circumstances.

This person’s prior felonies got him a high offender score, so Judge Inveen was required to sentence him in a range, where even the lower end was still 129 months in prison.

That he hit a police car had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with his sentencing range. It’s all done by simple math.

By: Eric

Eric — Sat, 05 Apr 2014 02:45:04 +0000

The judge wanted to give a lighter sentence, but couldn’t? Figures

By: Eric

Eric — Sat, 05 Apr 2014 02:42:20 +0000

Wow, finally a sentence deserving for a habitual criminal.

By: drahcir61

drahcir61 — Sat, 05 Apr 2014 02:39:18 +0000

Considering his rap sheet began at 15, perhaps his father should have been arrested while he was in court (I say this tongue-in-cheek but still).

By: Sandal 41

Sandal 41 — Sat, 05 Apr 2014 01:02:17 +0000

They should handout more of these sentences in the beginning to ward off huge rap sheets

By: WSB

WSB — Sat, 05 Apr 2014 00:19:11 +0000

In reply to alki resident.

I’m adding details from the hearing but it was actually his long rap sheet that impressed the judge, so to speak, the most. He had even been through the drug-offender alternate-sentencing program once. You’ll recall, this is the guy let out by another judge at an earlier stage of the process – TR

By: alki resident

alki resident — Sat, 05 Apr 2014 00:08:41 +0000

I dont think he would’ve had that much time had he not hit a cop car.