FAYETTEVILLE -- A judge rejected a request to reduce the 80-year prison sentence of a Prairie Grove man who took a plea deal to avoid the death penalty for his role in the beating death of Ronnie Lee Bradley of Prairie Grove.
Anthony Swinford, 36, filed a petition for reduction of sentence in early February arguing the two 40-year sentences, when combined, are excessive and the terms running consecutively will make it impossible for him to serve the total 80 years in his lifetime.
"Eighty years would eliminate petitioner's chance for parole at an age that would allow him to live a fair life after his debt to society has been paid," Swinford wrote in the petition.
Washington County Circuit Judge William Storey summarily rejected the petition this week.
"Only in cases where a sentence is illegal or illegally imposed may this court grant post conviction relief," Storey wrote. "Your petition failed to allege grounds upon which relief may be granted, accordingly, your petition is denied."
Prosecutor John Threet said Wednesday there was no mistake in the sentence Swinford received. It will be 56 years until he is eligible for parole.
"I understand that's a lot of time and I fully expect him to die in prison. But, that's fair and, as far as I'm concerned, it's done," Threet said. "I think his punishment is justified by his actions that night. That's why he got that specifi c sentence.
Bradley, 48, was severely beaten and strangled. His body was dumped Dec. 27, 2012, in a driveway in rural southwest Washington County.
Dr. Charles Kokes, state medical examiner, said Bradley had more than 100 nonfatal cuts, scrapes and bruises to his head, face, neck, chest, back, arms and legs. Kokes estimated the injuries came from at least 50 blows. Bradley died from bleeding around the brain because of blows to the head and damage to his larynx from being strangled with a seat belt.
Swinford pleaded guilty in November to accomplice to first-degree murder and kidnapping and was sentenced to two consecutive 40-year terms in prison.
Swinford took primary responsibility for killing Bradley when he testified during a co-defendant's trial. Two co-defendants pleaded guilty to first-degree murder charges and a fourth one was found guilty of capital murder.
General News on 04/23/2014