Guilty In Grandfather's Death

TACOMA - A Sumner man has admitted to firing a high-powered rifle at his grandfather's head, killing the 80-year-old retired rhubarb farmer.

Jason Lee Sutton, 19, pleaded guilty yesterday to second-degree murder in the Sept. 26 murder of Clifford Sutton, who was shot while stacking wood behind the garage at his Sumner home.

Sutton originally was charged with first-degree murder before arriving at a plea bargain with prosecutors. His trial was to have started yesterday.

"It was not a lead-pipe cinch as far as first-degree murder," said Pierce County deputy prosecutor Mike Johnson in regard to the plea-bargain.

"It's very possible a jury would have found him guilty of second-degree murder."

Sutton faces a prison term of 21 years and four months to 28 years and five months. A conviction of first-degree murder would have carried a sentence of 30 years and eight months to 41 years.

Sutton initially had told investigators he shot his grandfather with a rifle because the elderly man was "on his back" all the time. Sutton had been staying with his grandparents.

Johnson said he plans to recommend the court impose the minimum sentence for the crime. Sentencing is set for March 14 in Pierce County Superior Court.

Sutton shot his grandfather while free on $100,000 bail on charges of child molestation and kidnapping in Seattle. He was found guilty earlier this month of the felony charges, in addition to attempted kidnapping and criminal impersonation.

He is to be sentenced in that case in King County Superior Court on Feb. 10. Prosecutors say he faces six to seven years in prison for those crimes.