Linehan co-conspirator gets 99 years

John Carlin talked for an hour at his sentencing this morning, offering a detailed rebuttal of the state's case against him, but failed to sway Superior Court Judge Phil Volland, who sentenced him to 99 years in prison.

Charged as the shooter in the 1996 murder of Kent Leppink - with whom he shared amorous attentions toward Mechele Linehan, now of Olympia, but a stripper at the time in Alaska - Carlin was convicted of first-degree murder by a jury last year.

He chose not to testify in his own defense during trial.

Carlin used his right to speak before sentencing to tell his version of what happened. The judge did not require him to take an oath or submit to cross-examination.

In handing down the maximum sentence, Volland said Carlin committed a premeditated murder and deserved the maximum sentence.

Linehan, who was convicted by a second jury, is in jail and scheduled to be sentenced next week.