PORT ANGELES — Kevin A. Bradfield was charged Tuesday with second-degree murder in connection with an Oct. 9 attack that killed Jennifer Pimentel.
Clallam County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ann Lundwall said in charging papers that the state “intends to seek an exceptional sentence” because Bradfield “knew or should have known that the victim of the current offense was particularly vulnerable or incapable of resistance.”
Port Angeles police allege that Bradfield, 22, strangled Pimentel, who was developmentally disabled and said to have had a mental age of 12, as Pimentel pleaded for her life.
She was 27.
The exceptional sentence means Bradfield faces a maximum of life in prison — as well as a $50,000 fine — instead of the 10 to 18 years that he would have faced because of a lack of a felony record.
If a jury finds grounds for an exceptional sentence, a judge could sentence Bradfield to life, Lundwall said.
The law allows two ways to commit second-degree murder, Lundwall said.
One is when a person is intentionally killed but it is not planned out beforehand.
The other is when a person is killed during the commission of a felony, in this case second-degree assault.
Bradfield is charged under both forms of second-degree murder, Lundwall said.
First-degree murder is premeditated and intentional.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Bradfield admitted to police that he strangled Pimentel at his girlfriend’s residence at 808 E. Lauridsen Blvd. and tried to conceal evidence of her death.
The girlfriend, 25-year-old Kendell K. Huether, was charged Tuesday with first-degree rendering criminal assistance.
Court papers allege that Huether stood idly by as her childhood friend — Pimentel — was being strangled and as she cried out: “Stop, you’re killing me. Please stop!”
Police allege that Huether helped Bradfield dispose of Pimentel’s body near the Hood Canal Bridge in East Jefferson County with three of Huether’s children present.
Huether faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
A motive was not provided by police or contained in the probable-cause statement.
Both Bradfield and Huether will be arraigned in Clallam County Superior Court on Friday at 1:30 p.m.
Pimentel’s friends and family members locked arms during the seven minutes between the time Huether was led out of the courtroom and Bradfield was led in.
A judge signed a no-contact order between the two during their first court appearance Friday. They were led from the jail to the courtroom separately.
Bradfield is being held on $1 million bail. Huether is being held on $100,000 bond.
Both remained in custody late Tuesday.
During Huether’s hearing, Clallam County Superior Court Judge George L. Wood appointed defense attorney Karen Unger to the case.
Harry Gasnick, lead attorney for Clallam County Public Defender, said his office could not defend both clients because of a direct conflict between the two.
“Our practice is, if at all possible, to keep that matter which appears to be likely to be more serious,” Gasnick said.
“Based on the affidavit of probable cause, we anticipate that it would be the gentleman’s charge.”
The scene inside the courtroom was somber — similar to Bradfield and Huether’s first appearances Friday.
Extra security was brought in to monitor the near-capacity crowd.
Some members of the audience wept as the proceedings took place.
“I’m going to throw up,” an unidentified woman said after Bradfield was charged.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
