Man gets 30 years for raping, beating wife who sought divorce

EVERETT — A man has been sentenced to 30 years and three months in prison for raping and trying to kill his wife after she filed for divorce.

The sentence given Tuesday to Richard Allen Kirk, 36, a former Bothell firefighter and emergency medical technician, was five years longer than Snohomish County prosecutors recommended under an agreement in which he pleaded guilty to first-degree rape and attempted murder.

Kirk apologized in a packed courtroom to his family, the fire department and the community, and his lawyer suggested a 23-year prison term.

Instead, Superior Court Judge Ronald C. Castleberry said Bridgette Kirk, now divorced, and her six children deserved the maximum period of security he could provide under state sentencing guidelines from the chance that her ex-husband would try to retaliate after being released.

"She and the children deserve to feel as safe as they can for as long as they can," Castleberry said.

According to documents filed in court, Kirk became enraged when she served him with divorce papers and forced her into the family van in front of the children July 8, then drove to Storm Lake, assaulted and beat her until she ran naked to a nearby house.

"This was a life-altering, brutal attack," Castleberry said. "His wife was beaten so badly she couldn't be recognized."