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Montana Man Sentenced in Washington Cold Case Killing

By Beacon Staff

HAMILTON — A 60-year-old Montana man has been sentenced to less than 3 ½ years in prison for the 1996 death of a Kirkland, Wash., woman.

Clifford Reed of Victor was sentenced to 41 months in the slaying of 28-year-old Sandi Johnson, whose remains were found in Pierce County eight years after she disappeared.

Reed was arrested in 2012. He pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in March and was sentenced in King County Superior Court on April 11.

The Ravalli Republic reports Reed had already spent 494 days in jail and should be free by 2016.

King County Prosecutor’s Office chief of staff Ian Goodhew says the 41-month sentence was at the top of the range for manslaughter in 1996.

Since then, Washington state has increased the manslaughter sentencing range.