Justices undo sentences in Lakewood cop killings

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington's Supreme Court has reversed the gun convictions and the exceptional sentences issued to two people who helped Maurice Clemmons after he gunned down four police officers in a Lakewood coffee shop in 2009.

Clemmons' aunt, Letrecia Nelson, and friend Eddie Lee Davis were convicted of rendering criminal assistance for helping Clemmons evade capture, as well as possession of a stolen firearm. Davis was sentenced to 10 years; Nelson got six.

Eight of nine justices agreed Wednesday that it was inappropriate for the trial court to impose exceptional sentences. A smaller majority — five justices — also said the pair were wrongly convicted of possessing a gun Clemmons took from one of the officers.

The justices said that although Clemmons brought the gun in Nelson's home, there wasn't sufficient evidence that either Davis or Nelson had control over it.