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Man Charged in 1985 Murder Gets 25 Years in Prison

By Beacon Staff

MISSOULA – A 58-year-old man accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend in 1985 and dumping her body on the outskirts of Missoula was sentenced Monday to 25 years in prison.

Robert Chickene struck a deal with prosecutors and entered an Alford Plea in May to charges of murder and tampering with evidence in the death of 22-year-old Paula Rodriguez. In such a plea, the defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence to obtain a guilty verdict.

Authorities say Chickene had been living under a false identity because of other run-ins with the law, and when Rodriguez found out about his criminal history, she threatened to expose him. A vacationing police officer from Spokane, Wash., found her body wrapped in a tarp in a creek west of Missoula in November 1985. She had been shot twice at close range with a .38-caliber pistol.

Chickene was arrested in San Antonio in September on a drug charge and on the old murder warrant from Missoula. He had been living under an assumed name.

Chief Deputy Missoula County Attorney Kirsten Pabst said the plea agreement represented a sure thing in a case that was slowly going cold. She said dying witnesses, outmoded evidence technology and dated evidence all posed problems in taking the case to trial.

Rodriguez’ family agreed with the plea deal, but still had some harsh words for Chickene on Monday.

“It is my sincerest hope that you do die in prison,” said William Managhan, Rodriguez’ youngest brother.

“I watched my mother fall apart, year after year,” he said.

District Judge Dusty Deschamps asked Chickene during the sentencing hearing if he had anything to say after comments from Rodriguez’ family.

Chickene whispered “no” before he was sentenced and led out of the courtroom.