Man gets prison time in arson case

PALMER -- Superior Court Judge Eric Smith has sentenced a man to six months in prison for fourth-degree assault and violating terms of a domestic violence restraining order.

Edward A. Wooley was originally charged with solicitation to commit arson after he allegedly arranged for someone to set his ex-girlfriend's car on fire. He was sentenced Monday to 90 days apiece on each of the lesser charges with the terms to be served consecutively, not concurrently.

Jordan Olmstead previously pleaded no contest to criminal mischief in the second degree, a felony, for his part in burning the car in August 2002, said Assistant District Attorney Rachel Gernat.

She urged Judge Smith to impose a harsher sentence on Wooley, citing his previous criminal indictments and saying he "falls into a worst offender category." Gernat argued for a sentence of one year on each of the charges to be served consecutively.

"His prospects for rehabilitation are very slim," she said. "Mr. Wooley has a vendetta. There's acknowledgment by Mr. Wooley that he's not supposed to call [the ex-girlfriend] but he tries to circumvent the DVRO by calling a third party."

His communications to the woman included death threats, Gernat said.

Defense attorney Eugene Cyrus, participating in the court session via telephone from his Eagle River office, said Wooley has committed no violent crimes.

"He had nothing to do with that car," Cyrus said, asking the judge to impose sentences of 30 days for the DVRO violation and 60 to 90 days on the assault charge.

Wooley told the judge, "As far as the car is concerned, I didn't have nothing to do with it."

However, Smith noted an "extensive" number of felonies on Wooley's record, although none involved violence. The judge also said Wooley showed blatant disregard for the DVRO.

"Putting Mr. Wooley on probation isn't going to do a lot of good," Smith said. "If you have another DVRO, I guarantee you the penalty will go up."