Smith pleads guilty to manslaughter and more, gets 35 years

Published 9:53 am Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Daniel Lee Smith will serve 20 years on first-degree manslaughter for killing Samantha Brown in June in Echo. He will then do 15 years on first-degree assault for a violent attack on a fellow inmate in July the Umatilla County Jail, Pendleton.

The sentences come with no time off for good behavior or other hope of early release. Smith turned 30 in July. But the plea deal also means Smith avoids convictions for murder and attempted murder, and so life without parole is not hanging over his head.

Smith gave the pleas Wednesday afternoon at the Umatilla County Courthouse, Pendleton. His defense attorney, Dean Gushwa of Pendleton, said Smith admitted early on to the June 9 slaying of Brown and wanted to be held accountable for killing his friend.

Circuit Court Judge Lynn Hampton asked Smith if he understood he would do the full 20 years for the crime. Yes, he answered.

No one came to court to support Smith or represent Brown. Umatilla County chief deputy prosecutor Richard Bunney said her death has been hard on her parents, and the eldest of her four children is 6 and struggles with what happened to his mother.

Smith also pleaded guilty to first-degree assault for the July 17 attack of Justin Bedard, 34, at the jail. Smith and 21-year-old Matthew Raymond Hermann, who faces aggravated murder charges, went after Bedard. Gushwa did not talk about a motive, but said Smith used a broken broom handle in the attack.

Hampton noted video footage showed Smith celebrated the attack.

After court, Gushwa said Smith right after the assault gave a fist bump to murder defendant George West Craigen. Gushwa also said the broom handle may have been sharpened and Bedard required 39 staples to close wounds.

Smith also pleaded guilty to manufacturing methamphetamine. Gushwa said police on May 26 stopped Smith and found items in his car for a shake and bake method of making meth. He received a sentence of three years and three months that will run concurrent with the other two.

Smith also will have to pay restitution of $2,975 for Browns funeral costs, as well as court fees and fines. And when he gets out of prison at the age of 65, he will have to complete three years of post prison supervision on the assault and meth charges.

Contact Phil Wright at pwright@eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0833.