0 posts 11/21/2008 8:34 pm
Last Read:
6/22/2010 8:15 pm
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This ain't the summer of love
July 22 2008 Spokesman Review
Adriana Lytle, the 33-year-old stepmother accused in the torture death of 4-year-old Summer Phelps, pleaded guilty Monday morning to a charge of homicide by abuse.
Summer's biological mother, Elizabeth Phelps, sat crying in the courtroom as Lytle stood and spoke her guilty plea.
Lytle is likely to spend at least 20 to 26 years in prison under the standard sentencing range for homicide by abuse, defined as causing the death of another "through a pattern or practice of assault or torture." But her sentence could be longer if Spokane County Superior Court Judge Michael P. Price considers aggravating factors and imposes an exceptional sentence.
Lytle, who has no previous criminal convictions, won't be sentenced until after the trial of her husband, Jonathan Lytle, Summer Phelps' father. His trial in Price's courtroom is scheduled to start Oct. 13.
Jonathan Lytle had "substantial involvement in Summer's death, and we want that to be brought out," said assistant public defender Anna Nordtvedt, one of Adriana Lytle's court-appointed attorneys.
November 15 2008
A Spokane jury found the father of 4-year-old Summer Phelps guilty of homicide by abuse for his role in the beating and torture of his in a cramped Spokane apartment that became her death chamber.
In its verdict Friday, the jury also found Jonathan Lytle, 30, guilty of aggravated circumstances ‒ giving a green light to an exceptional sentence that could keep him in prison for most of his life. His wife, Adriana Lytle, has already pleaded guilty to homicide by abuse for Summer's death and awaits sentencing.
The was beaten, burned with cigarettes and shocked with an electric<b> collar. </font></b>Clumps of her hair were pulled from her scalp. On the day she died ‒ March 10, 2007 ‒ she was forced to wash urine-soaked clothes for hours before she was dunked in the bathtub and drowned. Doctors, nurses and police detectives said during the trial that Summer's was the worst case of abuse they'd seen.
"It was the most emotional case I've ever had," Spokane police Detective Brian Hamond, the lead detective in the investigation of Summer's death, said after the verdict.
Spokane County Superior Court Judge Michael P. Price read aloud the verdict from the eight-man, four-woman jury. In addition to their homicide by abuse verdict, they returned a special verdict finding Lytle guilty of deliberate indifference and cruelty to a vulnerable and using a "position of trust" to commit the crime.
Summer's biological mother, Elizabeth Phelps, sobbed as the verdict was read. Lytle stared straight ahead, as he had during much of his trial, showing no emotion as Price ruled he'd stay in jail without bond until sentencing. Five sheriff's deputies hustled him back to jail.
Jack Driscoll, Spokane County's chief criminal deputy prosecutor, said he was pleased by the verdict.
When I first started to make political blogs I made it a point to have equality under the law as a central theme, and that hasn't changed. I believe that all of us should receive equal treatment regardless of our race, creed, national origin, sexual predisposition, etc. Now I find myself in the unenviable position of defending scum like this, but listen to the point I have to make.
There are two criminals here Jonathan Lyttle, and his wife Adriana Lyttle. There are three possibilities here. Possibility one is that the are both equally guilty and should be punished equally. Possibility two and three is that one of the two was manipulated and dominated by the other and is therefore less culpable. I won't include being innocent as a possibility since that is laughably improbable.
For the District Attorney to offer a plea bargain to Adriana Lyttle undermines Jonathan Lyttle's right to a fair trial. Because she did not have to stand trial with him the jury is left with only one person to unload on, and if you were on that jury, you would want to unload the whole magazine, the quick way. There Jonathan sits like a deer in the headlights while his wife isn't there. Now on the outside possibility that he is partially innocent there is no way he can get an innocent verdict. What if was totally (insert noun) whooped by his wife and she was the one that called all the shots?
In furtherance of the scenario I just brought up I should point out that Adriana's were not abused in the slightest, if she had the power to protect her own , why couldn't she protect her step ? Unless of course she is the one doing all the abusing. The father was employed full time and consequently had less than half as much time to commit the abuse, not that it is proof of anything.
This whole crime and trial has been a major embarrassment for the whole community and it should have been presented to the people for resolution. For the District Attorney to plea a case like this out denys us all the right to a full accounting of the facts. The possibility that Adriana at 33 years of age could be paroled at age 47 when she may have been the principle leader of this horrible crime is unconscionable, she should have stood trial alongside Jonathan so that a jury could properly gauge her degree of guilt, as it is they just hung it all on the father as a matter of general principle. It's always the guys fault, I just haven't learned that yet.
I am not allowed to put up pictures of as per the TOS, but take my word for it Summer was a beautiful and would have grown to be a blessing upon the earth had she been given the chance. Instead I will offend you senses with a picture of her over fed step mother making good her escape.
Jonathan has yet to be sentenced, but I predict that the plea offered by the DA will come back to haunt us as a basis for appeal by Jonathan. |
I Swami Johnny see's all, knows all, tells very little.
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