Davis sentenced to 25 years

Gazette staff

Scott Lincoln Davis, a 60-year-old Silverdale man who was charged with attempted murder after shooting and wounding a Clallam County deputy in 2009, was sentenced to 25 years in prison Tuesday.

Davis was charged with first-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault for wounding Deputy Bill Cortani at a beachfront cabin east of Neah Bay.

"In hindsight, it's a tragedy that a man will spend most of the rest of his life in jail," Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict said. "It's also a tragedy that he assaulted a police officer."

Deb Kelly, Clallam County prosecutor, said the sentence was determined by looking at the sentencing ranges for each charge along with two five-year firearm enhancements as well as determining the charges stemmed from a continuous event and not two events.

"He (Judge Ken Williams) felt the 180 months coupled with the 10 years hard time for that total of 25 was what was necessary to protect the public," Kelly said.

Cortani was shot in the hip and upper left arm while responding to a trespassing complaint on Jan. 19, 2009. He returned fire and shot Davis as Davis, armed with a shotgun, approached. Cortani then held Davis at gunpoint for 30 minutes until help arrived.

Cortani was named 2009 Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.