December 9, 2009

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA -- Patrick Shemorry, of Charlottesville, was sentenced to 9.5 years in prison Wednesday afternoon for attempting to arrange the murder of his wife.

Shemorry appeared in Charlottesville Federal Court Wednesday with shackles and a beard. His mother, Danette Shemorry, testified that her son's actions were out of character. She said Patrick is a loving, intelligent, and caring person who lights up every room.

Shemorry's mother began crying when she explained that she has cancer. She said it would tear her heart apart to have her son serve a prison sentence in Virginia, thousands of miles away from his family's residence in Washington state.

Letters from Shemorry's family members, and even his estranged wife's family, defended his character, and said he's never shown signs of committing such a crime.

In a sentencing memo, Shemorry wrote a letter to the judge, saying that he was influenced by the witness who secretly recorded the tapes of him. Shemorry wrote in the memo that the witness, Michael Terry, volunteered his services and egged Shemorry on.

Patrick Shemorry pleaded guilty on September 22 after tape recordings showed him pleading with a man to kill his wife, Starla. In the tapes, Shemorry appears cold and distant. Shemorry says that's because when he was around Michael Terry, he became an emotionless shell.

Instead of going through with the plot, the informant walked into the Federal Courthouse and handed over the audio recordings. After listening to the tapes, authorities realized Shemorry was dangerous.

The prosecution says Shemorry's punishment of 9.5 years fits the crime.

"It was a particularly heinous type of crime," says Nancy Healey, Asisstant to the U.S. Attorney.

The prosecution received a letter from Shemorry's estranged wife Starla Knight in which she talks about the influence the plot has had on her life.

"Because it wasn't stated on the record, I don't think I can state what the contents were," says Healey. "But it was a letter that talked about the impact of the crime on her to some extent."

Shemorry said he wouldn't be able to walk this earth with the blood of his wife on his hands. His hands are innocent of murder, but he's still going to jail for the plot.

Shemorry will serve the prison sentence in Oregon in order to be close to his family's home in Washington state.