Sentence In Murder Case

KENNEWICK - A 23-year-old man has been sentenced to 17 1/2 years in prison for his part in the killing last October of a Richland teenager.

Sean Alexander had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder in connection with the death of Stephen Cecotti, 19, but he later asked to withdraw his plea.

On Friday, Alexander admitted he had taken Robert Thorne, 18, to Thompson Hill, where Cecotti was stabbed to death, and later loaned his car to Becky Richter, 18, but denied he knew the two planned to kill Cecotti.

Thorne and Richter each pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. Thorne was sentenced to nearly 28 years and Richter to almost 27 years in prison.

Prosecutor Andy Miller said that in statements to police, Alexander admitted to helping plan the murder, saying he, Thorne and Richter talked about killing Cecotti almost daily in the couple of weeks before the slaying.

Rolf DeDamm, a Bellevue attorney hired to represent Alexander for his sentencing, asked Benton County Superior Court Judge Craig Matheson to consider a sentence of seven or eight years. Matheson said the shorter sentence was justified because Alexander has psychological problems and because his confession helped police apprehend Thorne and Richter.

From Seattle Times staff and news services.