Bainbridge man convicted of attempted molestation sentenced to 51 months

Michael J. Gaffney, 47, received the highest end of the sentencing range for the March 2008 incident at the Bainbridge Island Aquatics Center. Kitsap County Superior Court Judge M. Karlynn Haberly had to choose a sentence that ranged from 38 months to 51 months for the charge, which was attempted first-degree child molestation.

Gaffney originally faced charges of first-degree child molestation and a predatory enhancement that would have brought a 25-year minimum sentence. Had he been convicted under the enhancement, Gaffney would have been the first in Kitsap County since the law went into effect in 2006.

But Haberly dismissed the enhancement charges on June 17, saying the law did not apply to attempted molestation cases.

In determining his sentence on Friday, Haberly ruled that Gaffney's history of self-reported voyeurism made him especially "scary" in areas where children gathered.

The judge pointed to a 2004 incident in which Gaffney was permanently trespassed from another Bainbridge Island swimming pool for peeping over a concrete wall at two females changing.

"I truly hope you are able to figure things out and stay away from children," Haberly said during closing remarks. She ordered Gaffney to undergo a psychosexual evaluation.

The victim's father spoke during the trial, asking the judge to impose the maximum sentence for the actions of the "monster."

"It's been three years since the incident, my daughter doesn't bring up the scary man in the bathroom up as much anymore," he said. "(But) you can't fix someone like this. He's going to do this again."

Gaffney's mother also came to the trial to try to shed light on her son's progress toward a "normal" life.

At the time of the incident, he was living in a neighborhood that didn't have children, she said.

"No kids were running around and his place was neat and tidy," she said.

Three letters were submitted in defense of Gaffney as well.

Jacob Murphy, Gaffney's attorney, summarized some of the letters' main points to the judge.

"Gaffney is an individual who is aware of his issues but has not always taken care of it," he said.

According to court documents, Gaffney refused to take medication for his mental instability at the time of the 2008 incident. He had previously been treated for bipolar disorder.

Arizona gunman had trouble in Kitsap County, too - Seattle WA ...

PORT ORCHARD, Kitsap County — Carey Dyess’ second wife claimed during their 1985 divorce proceedings that she feared her husband would kill her, according to documents filed in Kitsap County Superior Court.

Shirley Jean Hardisty said Dyess had told her “that if I do not ask my attorneys to withdraw that I will not live to see any monies from my husband” and that he had “threatened to fatally injure her attorneys.”

Hardisty — who died several years ago — proved prophetic.

According to police in Arizona, Dyess, 73, killed himself Thursday after he drove around and killed five people, including his fifth ex-wife, Theresa Lorraine Sigurdson, 61, and her divorce attorney, Jerrold Shelley, 62.

Also killed, according to Leon Wilmot, chief deputy for the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office, were Henry Scott Finney, 76, and James Simpson, 75. The fifth victim’s name was withheld pending notification of family.

Dyess also wounded Sigurdson’s best friend, Linda Kay Clatone, 52, Wilmot said.

Dyess was apparently a man of two faces.

On the one side, according to artist Angela Swedberg, he was an animal lover with a significant gift for handling horses.”The man I knew was a very, very polite, nice guy,” said Swedberg, who met Dyess while he was learning to train horses for cattle herding.

On the other hand, court documents indicate Dyess, a retired pipe fitter from the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard with numerous rental properties, had a history of escalating disputes with tenants and neighbors.

Monica Mulligan, remembers him well.

When she and her family moved to Port Orchard in 1995, she thought Dyess was great — “like a grandpa.”But his demeanor changed abruptly, said Mulligan, after one of Dyess’ horses got spooked and he blamed the Mulligans.

David Dyess, Carey Dyess’ son from his first marriage, said he had not seen his father in years.

Nevertheless, said David Dyess, 49, of Port Orchard, no one in his family expected anything like this.”We’re shocked, so shocked.” He said his family is grieving for the victims and their families.

Material from The Associated Press is included in this report.