Woodard sentenced to 55 years
<p>Michael Woodard on Aug. 24 during his initial appearance in District Court. </p>
Michael John Woodard, who pled guilty to deliberate homicide August 24 for killing his ex-wife Kelly Dube-Woodard, has been sentenced in Mineral County District Court Wednesday by District Court Judge Karen Townsend.
Judge Townsend sentenced Woodard, 52, to a 55-year sentence at the Montana State Prison. Woodard accepted the sentence prior to the sentencing according to a plea agreement signed by prosecutor Marcia Boris and Woodard’s defense attorney Lance Jasper August 22.
The prosecution also recommended in the plea agreement that Woodard gets credit for time served prior to sentencing, so Woodard will be credited with the 155 days has already spent in jail.
During sentencing, Judge Townsend was not bound by the plea agreement. Yet, Judge Townsend accepted the plea agreement.
Along with a 55-year sentence, the plea agreement states that Woodard is to complete an anger management program. Also, the plea agreement recommends Woodard be screened for prison employment programs and be restricted to the “high side” while at the state prison.
Additionally, the plea agreement said the prosecution agrees to “recommend conditions of parole listed in the presentence investigation.”
Prior to sentencing, Woodard’s guilty plea came during his initial appearance in District Court August 24 in front of Judge Townsend. Woodard had been schedule for three pervious initial court appearances July 25, June 22 and June 11, but defense attorney Jasper issued continuances because he needed more time.
Before Woodard made his initial appearance August 24 and pleaded guilty, Mineral County Justice Court Judge Wanda James charged Woodard with deliberate homicide of Dube-Woodard on June 6.
On June 5, Woodard arrived in Superior and his bail was set at $500,000. Nevada police extradited Woodard, who lived in Elko, Nev., on June 3.
Woodard was arrested by the Nevada Highway Patrol May 25 after an attempt-to-locate alert was issued for alleged aggravated assault and kidnapping.
The attempt-to-locate alert went out after Dube-Woodard was reported missing by her friends and family May 24.