David Williamson

District Court Judge Bill Simpson is standing by the 18- to 20-year sentence he gave to a Powell man who killed his wife.

In March, David Williamson asked the judge to shorten the sentence he is serving for killing his wife, 65-year-old Shirley Williamson.

However, Judge Simpson rejected the request on July 1.

“The court believes the sentence David E. Williamson has received is reasonable under the circumstances and therefore declines to modified or reduced [sic] the same,” Simpson wrote in a brief order, reciting boilerplate language commonly used when denying requests for reductions.

At last year’s original sentencing hearing, the judge told Williamson it would “discredit her [Shirley Williamson’s] memory … to give you anything less than 18 to 20 years.” That’s the maximum penalty allowed by state law for voluntary manslaughter.

Williamson had spent years serving as his wife’s caretaker as her physical and mental health deteriorated. However, Williamson killed Shirley in August 2017 after, he says, she threatened him with a gun and asked him to shoot her.

In making his request for a shorter sentence, Williamson said he knows he did wrong and will “do whatever time in prison I am capable of doing.” However, he said he’s been suffering from serious health problems and wants a chance to be with his family.

“I am asking for a reduction in sentence so maybe I can live long enough to get out and be with my daughter and grandsons,” the 66-year-old Williamson wrote.

The Park County Attorney’s Office had vehemently opposed the reduction.

“A sentence reduction is a privilege NOT a right and should be reserved for deserving individuals,” wrote Deputy Park County Attorney Leda Pojman. “Such individuals are ones who do not kill others and who have not already received a reduced charge.”

The case had originally been charged as second-degree murder but was lowered to voluntary manslaughter as part of a deal with prosecutors.

While Williamson may not want to serve his entire sentence, “this is what happens in American [sic] when you murder someone,” Pojman wrote in her June filing, “you go to prison and you serve your time.”

The Williamsons’ three children had expressed mixed views on whether their father should receive a reduced sentence, with one in support, one in opposition and the other saying he should at least serve more time than a drug offense.

Wyoming Department of Corrections records say Williamson is currently set to become eligible for parole in December 2029.