By Brenda Starkey
The Chronicle

     REPUBLIC - Cory Monaghan was sentenced to 33 years and 10 months in prison Wednesday, March 17, for killing his friend at the Malo home of his uncle and then burning the house to destroy evidence.
     Monaghan, 36, Ravensdale, was found guilty Feb. 16 in Ferry County Superior Court of first-degree premeditated murder, first degree arson and a firearms enhancement to the murder charge.
     The jury was unconvinced that he was legally insane when he killed Jeremy Karavias, 19, Kent, and burned the Art Creek Road home of Ron and Kathy Wessel to the ground Oct. 22, 2008.
     Judge Rebecca Baker heard arguments for leniency in his sentencing, and statements from Kathy and Amanda Wessel and from Karavias' cousin, Jenifer Blakeslee, before sentencing Monaghan to the maximum penalty allowed by Washington law.
     She also had letters of support from Monaghan's friends and family who urged leniency in his sentencing.