Peggy Sue Thomas, the 2000 Ms. Washington, received a four year prison sentence as a result of a plea bargain for her participation in the murder of Russel Douglas, the husband of a former colleague according to TV Guide on Feb. 17.
The plea agreement was arranged in January just one week ahead of the start of her trial for first-degree murder. Prosecutors agreed to recommend the four-year sentence in exchange for a guilty plea to the charge of rendering criminal assistance in the first degree.
Prosecutors were prepared to present a case which was based on the idea that Thomas and her boyfriend at the time, James Huden, had lured Douglas to a remote area so that Huden could shoot him. Douglas’ body was found two days after Christmas in 2003 in a car in Freeland, Whidbey Island.
During Huden’s trial which took place last year, he refused to explain why he targeted Huden. When offered a deal to testify against the former beauty queen, he declined. He was convicted and sentenced to 80 years in prison for first-degree murder.
Thomas had the opportunity to clear the slate on Friday about the matter but declined to do so. When her plea deal was reached in January, she offered this apology:
"I'm not the woman that's been portrayed in the papers over the last few years. I would want to tell Russell Douglas and his family that I am so sorry for their loss."
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