Jason Scott Roberts, the confessed killer of Federal Way police officer Patrick M. Maher, has been sentenced to thirty years in prison as penalty for his crime.

Although closer to the high-end of possible sentences, it was not the maximum penalty sought by prosecutors.

Judge Michael J. Fox made his decision before a courtroom packed full of police officers and Maher supporters at King County Superior Court in downtown Seattle on Friday, December 9th.

Prior to delivering the judgment, Judge Fox listened for over an hour to impassioned and tearful speeches from Maher's family and co-workers asking him to impose the harshest punishment possible.

Many in attendance openly wept as they listened to the speeches and viewed pictures of Patrick Maher projected onto a large screen at the front of the courtroom. Boxes of Kleenex were liberally placed around the courtroom in anticipation of the audience's response to the proceedings.

Fox then asked the defendant if he wanted to say anything. Roberts stood and sobbed, "I know this won't mean much, but I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I made a stupid mistake and took the life of an honorable man." After repeatedly apologizing, he quietly sat back down and cried, covering his face with his hands.

In October, Roberts had entered a guilty plea to premeditated first-degree murder with a firearm. He received 300 months of confinement for the murder charge and 60 months for committing a crime with a firearm.

As the court adjourned, Renee Maher, the widow of the slain officer, angrily told reporters, "The judge is a coward,"

"The defendant showed more courage here today than Judge Fox," said Maher.

Fox explained that it was the court's job to "fashion a just sentence." Maher's widow, when addressing the judge, had implored him to honor her deceased husband by imposing the maximum sentence. In his statement, Fox said it would be a mistake to place a value on Maher's life in terms of years in prison for Roberts.

The judge said it was appropriate for the court to consider the degree of intention. Roberts had agreed to plea guilty to the lesser charge of premeditated murder rather than aggravated murder. However, Fox said that Roberts did not set out that day with a plan to kill Maher.

It was the rashness, the suddenness of the crime that set it apart from other premeditated crimes.

Fox also stated that it was appropriate for the court to consider that the legislature of the State of Washington has defined the murder of a police officer as more egregious than the murder of a civilian, and requires a more punitive punishment.

With these two considerations in mind, Fox made his decision. Roberts was ordered to serve the prison time, attend alcohol and substance abuse treatment, and pay a minimal amount of fines. He was then handcuffed and led out of the courtroom in silence, head down, past row upon row of uniformed officers.

On August 2, 2003, around 10 AM, Maher was dispatched to the AM/PM store at 27200 Pacific Highway South on a Civil Standby.

Anyone can call the police and ask them to be present for a limited time to keep the peace. A 'civil standby' is most often used when a person needs to collect clothing or property from their home after a domestic violence incident.

When he arrived, he saw a physical fight in progress that was unrelated to the original 'civil standby' call. Maher broke up the fight and detained one of the combatants; Jason Scott Roberts.

Roberts ran from Maher and was tackled across the street.

Other Federal Way police officers were en route to assist. A struggle ensued; and Roberts grabbed the officer's firearm and shot Maher below his protective vest.

Maher died from to his wound 4 hours later at Harborview Medical Center.

After retiring from an illustrious 20-year career in the United States

Coast Guard, Maher went to work for the Honolulu Police Department in October 1996. He was on the force there for seven years.

It was in Hawaii that he met Renee. The two married and moved to

Federal Way. He had been with the FWPD for seven months when he was killed in the line of duty.

His wife Renee, his daughter Amanda Maher, his sisters Teresa Maher,

Peggy Maher-Dreher, and Rita Young, his brother Thomas Maher, and many extended family members and friends survive Maher and were at the courtroom to witness the sentencing.