By Sven Berg
Idaho Falls Post Register
SHELLEY, Idaho — In eight seconds in October, Scott Parker fired nine bullets at police vehicles.
Those eight seconds will cost him as many as 24 years behind bars.
On Monday, 7th District Judge Dane Watkins sentenced Parker, 32, to at least 13 years in state prison and an additional nine if the Shelley man is not granted parole. It is also possible that Watkins will order Parker to begin serving the sentence after he has finished the remaining two years on a prior sentence.
In forming the sentence, Watkins adhered almost exactly to Bonneville County Prosecutor Bruce Pickett’s recommendation of a prison sentence of 13 to 20 years.
He rejected the arguments of defense attorney Drew Pendlebury, who framed the October shooting as just one in a series of attempts by Parker to kill himself. Pendlebury suggested a sentence of two to 10 years.
None of Parker’s shots struck officers.
At the time of the incident, Parker had stopped using medications prescribed to maintain his emotional stability, Pendlebury said. He wanted officers to shoot him to death as he drove along First Street in Idaho Falls, firing an assault rifle at them, Pendlebury said.
They almost did. In returning fire, officers shot Parker three times in the back. One of the bullets lodged perilously close to his spine.
Parker survived and recovered. In the courtroom Monday, he appeared lucid and in good health.
In the moments before Pendlebury arrived, Parker turned to the dozen or so law enforcement officers who attended his sentencing.
“I apologize for endangering you guys,” he said.
The officers didn’t react much.
Pendlebury said Parker needs to live in a structured atmosphere and around professionals who understand the mental health issues that afflict him.
“When he’s on his medication, he’s actually pretty good,” Pendlebury said. “It’s when he runs out and he gets lost and he doesn’t know where to turn, he deteriorates very, very quickly.”
In his own statement, Parker said he never meant to put law enforcement officers or the public in danger. He just wanted to die, he said.
Watkins wasn’t convinced.
“The court believes very strongly that you were at least willing to inflict harm upon others,” he told Parker moments before handing down the sentence.
At the time of the shooting, Parker was on parole that stemmed from a 2003 conviction for attacking law enforcement officers in Fremont County.
Watkins left for a later date his decision as to whether the new sentence should begin after Parker finishes the two years left on the Fremont County sentence or whether Parker should serve both sentences concurrently.
After the hearing, Pickett said Watkins’ sentence was fair, though he acknowledged the case was difficult for all sides.
“You try to balance out the protection of society versus rehabilitation, which is what I think the court struggled with as well in this case,” Pickett said.
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