Peterson sentence: 30 years, no parole
<p>Josh Peterson pauses from reading his letter of apology to glance towards his wife Tracee Jo prior to sentencing Monday.</p>
<p>Hailey Peterson, left, with her mom's (Tracee) head on her shoulder during Josh Peterson sentencing, Monday morning.</p>
<p>Ed Hanson awaiting sentencing of his son-in-law Josh Peterson for the beating of Hanson's daughter Tracee Jo Peterson Monday in District Court.</p>
Joshua Peterson, 36, will serve 30 years in prison without the chance at parole after his attack on his wife with a baseball bat nearly claimed her life.
Citing the extreme violence of the attack and evidence of a persistent trait of volatility, District Court Judge James Wheelis exceeded the recommended sentence of 25 years in prison with seven years suspended presented by Lincoln County Attorney Bernie Cassidy.
Surrounded by family and friends wearing purple and donning purple ribbon temporary tattoos, Tracee Peterson held closely to her oldest daughter, Hailey Peterson.
Scheduled as Monday's first hearing, sentencing was delayed when Joshua Peterson was nowhere to be found at 9:30. Area law enforcement, including Troy Chief of Police Bob McLeod and Lincoln County Undersheriff Brent Faulkner, as well as victim-witness advocate Lori Faulkner, went into a temporary panic after Wheelis issued a $2 million bench warrant. Authorities settled when Joshua Peterson arrived shortly after with his attorney, L. Jason Bryan.
Bryan requested a sentence of five years in prison with 25 years suspended. Before his ruling, Wheelis allowed Joshua Peterson to address his wife, children, in-laws and the emergency responders that aided Tracee Peterson on Sept. 28, 2013.
“Tracee Jo, seeing you after I hurt you was the worst feeling of my life,” Joshua Peterson said. “I destroyed my best friend. I continue to pray for you and the children daily.”
Addressing Tracee’s parents, Ed and Trish Hanson, Joshua Peterson said he was sorry for all the sleepless nights and worries.
Tracee Peterson said she believed her husband’s words to be authentic.
“A lot of people said he was coerced by his lawyer to say those things, but those were his words,” Tracee Peterson said. “I’ve heard them before. I don’t know if he knows what ‘I’m sorry’ really means.”
Bryan’s pre-sentencing memorandum described Joshua Peterson’s childhood as lonely and violent. In the past months Joshua Peterson worked at tire shops in Bozeman and Polson, providing $2,000 for his family. On the night of the attack, Bryan wrote that Joshua Peterson believed his wife was walking to another room to grab a gun and possibly shoot him. In a panic, Bryan wrote, his client hit his wife in the head with a baseball bat three times.
“Joshua understands and accepts that he will never again have a relationship of any kind with Tracee,” Bryan’s document read.