Judge Sentences Convicted Murderer To Life In Prison

Yakima County Superior Court Judge Ruth Ruekoff called the crime one of the worst in her experience as a judge. Then she sentenced 23-year-old Aaron Briden to life in prison without parole - the maximum sentence she could give. Briden was found guilty in the brutal rape and murder of Shelley Kinter back in 2009. Ruekoff heard the case without a jury. Briden not only raped and beat Kinter, but he ran over her with a stolen car. Prosecutors decided not to seek the death penalty.