A 27-year-old man who shot his father to death as a teen in their Ferndale home wants to represent himself as prosecutors try to extend his time in prison for allegedly violating the conditions of his release.
Terry Olson, who appeared in District Court on Thursday, is accused of violating his parole by assaulting his girlfriend and drinking alcohol in March. The remaining years of his sentence were reinstated, and he has been jailed since Aug. 25.
Olson was 14 when he shot 43-year-old Edwin John Olson in the head on May 20, 1998. He said at the time he thought killing his father was the only way to end the abuse he endured.
Olson was sentenced 40 years in prison with 10 years suspended, but an appellate court adjusted the sentence to 40 years with 16 years suspended. Prosecutors now want to revoke those six years of the suspended sentence granted by the court.
The Daily Inter Lake in Kalispell reports that District Judge Katherine Curtis agreed to remove Olson’s public defender from the case, but ruled that a “standby attorney” would be assigned to provide legal advice.
Olson was paroled in 2009.