Florida Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog
Patrick Drum, 34, accused of a double murderer, changed his plea to guilty at a hearing Thursday afternoon at the Clallam County Courthouse. Drum was sentenced to life in prison without parole for killing 28-year-old Gary Blanton, and 56-year-old Jerry Ray, both of which were convicted sex offenders. Drum made it very clear that he killed Blanton and Ray because they were sex offenders.
Blanton, 28, was convicted in 2001 as a teenager of third-degree rape, according to the National Sex Offender Registry. Ray was convicted in 2002 of first-degree rape of a child.
Drum offered the guilty plea without any plea deal, said Drum’s court-appointed attorney. Prosecuting Attorney Deb Kelly affirmed the lack of any plea deal.
“It’s a waste of taxpayer money if I go to trial,” Drum told Clallam County Superior Court Judge George Wood. “It was going to happen if I go to trial anyway,” he further stated.
The judge asked Drum several times if he had been coerced or had received any offer in exchange for pleading guilty. Drum said he had not been coerced or been given an offer and repeatedly affirmed his decision to change his plea. The judge accepted Drum’s plea.