Patrick Parnel was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Friday after being convicted of aggravated second-degree murder last month for killing his newborn daughter in Ocean Shores in April of 2013.
Parnel, 23, took his daughter to a vacant lot and bludgeoned the child to death with a ratchet shortly after his girlfriend gave birth to the baby in an Ocean Shores Motel. The child’s body was found on April 5 by an Ocean Shores woman.
Parnel’s girlfriend, Brittany Taylor, was sentenced to four years and 10 months in prison for her involvement in the newborn’s death.
The standard range of punishment for the charge was 123-220 months in prison, but prosecuting attorney Katie Svoboda said an exceptional sentence of 480 months was reached due to the fact that the victim was especially vulnerable. Parnel has no prior felony convictions.
“It is hard to imagine who could be more vulnerable than a child who is less than an hour old,” said Svoboda in a statement to the court before a sentence was handed down.
The prosecution recommended a sentence of 600 months, or 50 years in prison. Robert Quillian, Parnel’s defense attorney, made a recommendation of 220 months.
Svoboda also noted during her statement that Parnel was aware of the “Safe Haven” law, which allows infants to be dropped off by parents while letting the mother and father remain nameless. Svoboda reminded the court that there was a Fire Department near the motel where the couple could have brought the baby.
Quillian asked Judge Stephen Brown to take into consideration Parnel’s clean criminal record and also mentioned letters that family members had submitted to the court asking for a lenient sentence.
“We’re asking that this family is able to hug their child, brother and friend outside of prison walls,” said Quillian.
When asked to speak on his own behalf, Parnel pulled out a letter written on notebook paper and addressed Brown.
“I know I’ve made mistakes, but I’m a not a bad person,” he said. Parnel then turned to his family members in the court pews and told them he loved them. “They know that I’m a loving, caring, respectful young man,” he said as he looked at his mother and father.
After Parnel’s testimony, Judge Brown addressed the court. Brown referred to a letter from a family member of Parnel’s that called the 23-year-old a “responsible, polite, hard-working man.” Brown said that Parnel’s actions in this case spoke louder than those kind words.
“You had every opportunity to make the right choice,” Brown said. “Your baby daughter was totally helpless. You committed the ultimate act of child abuse.”
After Brown read the sentence, cries came from Parnel’s family in the courtroom.
The defense appealed the sentence and will ask the court to review testimony and evidence, though the appeal process will most likely not take place in court, said Svoboda.
“We’re very close with our son and he’s never been a liar,” said Patrick James Parnel, the defendant’s father after his son was sentenced.
“Why was there no blood splatter in the car?” asked Parnel’s mother, Robin, disagreeing with last month’s verdict. “There would have been blood everywhere.”
Neuropathologist Steven Rostad testified during the trial that the baby’s death was caused by “very significant force,” but both of Parnel’s parents said they believe that the trauma was inflicted during the birthing process, not by Parnel.
“The whole case is a tragedy for many, many people,” Quillian said.
Jake Schild, a Daily World writer, can be reached at 537-3933, or by email at jschild@thedailyworld.com
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