A Thurston County Superior Court judge sentenced a 43-year-old man to 30 years in prison for shooting and killing his Lacey neighbor in 2023.
Scott M. Brodrick learned of his sentence during a Friday hearing in Thurston County Superior Court.
The hearing occurred a month after a jury convicted him of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon, according to court records. The victim was Brian Fraley, 43. He died at an area mobile home park in the 5500 block of Chelan Lane Southeast about 18 months ago, The Olympian previously reported.
Judge Carol Murphy specifically sentenced Brodrick to 360 months in prison, which includes 300 months as a base sentence and 60 months for enhancements. The final sentence falls within the higher end of a 300 to 380-month standard range.
Brodrick was also ordered to complete 36 months of community custody, pay $6,863.69 in restitution and have no contact with the several people, including Fraley's family.
Officers responded to Chelan Lane on Aug. 21, 2023, after several reports of gunfire. They found Fraley dead with multiple gunshot wounds. Prosecutors alleged Brodrick went to Fraley's home after an online dispute and shot him with a rifle before fleeing the scene.
Investigators identified Brodrick as a suspect and tracked him to a fast-food restaurant on Quinault Drive Northeast in Lacey after a four-day search, according to court records.
Court records say Brodrick was initially non-compliant, so officers used a taser and a police dog to take him into custody.
Following his arrest, Brodrick told investigators he had been hiding in a Tumwater motel that another person booked for him. He reportedly used a disguise, wearing a hat and face mask during his stay.
During the trial, Brodrick maintained he acted in self-defense, but the jury ultimately convicted him of first-degree murder.
Brodrick's attorneys asked the court to sentence him to just 180 months in prison and 36 months of community custody.
In a sentencing memorandum, defense attorneys Kevin Griffin and Jenna Norden said Brodrick shot Fraley after a "significant period of Mr. Fraley demonstrating aggression towards Mr. Brodrick."
The attorneys said Brodrick is and has expressed remorse about his actions and never denied that his actions led to Fraley's death.
Given the circumstances, the attorney's asked the court to impose an "exceptional sentence downwards."
Brodrick served in the Army from 2001 to 2009, during which he deployed to Iraq on two occasions. After being released from active duty, Brodrick served in the Washington National Guard from 2008 to 2009, his attorneys said.
U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs records indicate Brodrick suffered numerous injuries during his service, including blast injuries, according to the attorneys memorandum.
A 2008 report stated Brodrick had symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression as well.
In another memorandum, Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Heather Stone and Andrew Filak asked the court to sentence Brodrick within the standard range.
"The jury's finding was not just that the defendant intentionally murdered Brian Fraley and self-defense did not apply," the memorandum says. "Rather, the jury found that Scott Brodrick premeditated the murder of the victim which is inconsistent with an exceptional downward."
Additionally, prosecutors said the evidence showed Brodrick and Fraley a had an "on-again-off-again contentious relationship."
The two men physically fought a week before the murder, the memorandum says; however, Brodrick later "ambushed" an unarmed Fraley in his bedroom and shot him four times with a high-powered rifle.
"The victim literally did not even have a fighting chance to avoid his own murder," the memorandum says.
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