Other LanguagesOLYMPIA – A three-judge panel in the Division II Court of Appeals has upheld the convictions of a former Department of Defense and Port Orchard police officer who threatened his live-in girlfriend with a gun and pushed her out of a second-story window in 2010.
The officer’s girlfriend fractured her right ankle and shoulder and suffered a brain injury in the fall. She spent five weeks in the hospital, underwent multiple surgeries and remains confined to a wheelchair.
In Nov. 2011, a Kitsap County jury convicted Dennis McCarthy of Assault in the First Degree and Assault in the Second Degree. The jury also returned special verdicts that McCarthy committed his crimes while armed with a firearm and that the crimes were considered domestic violence.
McCarthy was sentenced to serve a total of 23 years in prison— which included one year for a prior incident where he lit his girlfriend’s belongings on fire.
Shortly before trial, the judge removed the Kitsap County Prosecutor’s Office from the case due to a conflict of interest. The Attorney General’s Office was asked to assume prosecution of the case. Assistant Attorney General John Hillman handled the case.
“The Attorney General’s Office Criminal Justice Division handles some of the state’s toughest cases,” said Attorney General Bob Ferguson. “This domestic violence case is a prime example of the difficult work we do to keep Washington safe.”
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The Office of the Attorney General is the chief legal officer for the state of Washington with attorneys and staff in 27 divisions across the state providing legal services to roughly 200 state agencies, boards and commissions. Attorney General Bob Ferguson is working hard to protect consumers and seniors against fraud, keep our communities safe, protect our environment and stand up for our veterans. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.
Contacts:
• Janelle Guthrie, Director of Communications
• Alison Dempsey-Hall, Deputy Communications Director