Judge & Defendant Shout It Out at Wash. Sentencing Hearing
A sentencing hearing in Washington state court yesterday suddenly turned dramatic after the judge and the defendant erupted in angry confrontation.
As Clark County Superior Judge John Wulle was about to sentence defendant Matthew Hastings to 120 years, concerning a 2007 standoff with police in which Hastings reportedly fired as many as 19 shots at a SWAT team, the defendant was becoming visibly angry. Wulle loudly warned him not to press his luck, reports the Vancouver Columbian, and Hastings yelled back at the judge: “Or what?”
“Shut your damn mouth, sir!,” the judge shouted at Hastings, threatening to gag him if he didn’t.
“OK, have me gagged then!” yelled Hastings, 30.
The judge then left the courtroom with counsel, apparently to discuss possible contempt sanctions for Hastings, who starting “sending eye daggers” at a sheriff’s officer standing on the other side of the room, the newspaper account continues.
The defendant then shouted at sheriff’s officers, among other taunts, “I’d like you [obscenities] to try to put a gag on me!”
Responded one of the officers: “Do I look concerned?”
After Wulle returned to the bench, he apologized to those in the court for using the word “damn” and told Hastings, on behalf of the community, “Bye-bye,” the Columbian reports.
Hastings, who by this point was being held in a chair by officers, verbally attacked the judge in response. “That’s going to be on the record, just like me, Pop!”
