Man gets 25 years in prison for Deer Park shooting death

The man who shot to death a man at point-blank range at a Deer Park apartment was sentenced to 25 years in prison Friday.

Anthony J. Tudor II was found guilty of first-degree murder in a trial in June in the death of Harry “Ed” Giesbrecht in Deer Park.

Two men pounded on Giesbrecht’s apartment door in January 2014, and Giesbrecht was shot when he answered the door. Richard F. Klepacki was found hiding nearby after the shooting and was arrested. Tudor, 25, was arrested in June 2014. At the time, investigators said they believed Tudor was the person who had pulled the trigger.

An acquaintance of Tudor’s told investigators that after the shooting, Tudor claimed Giesbrecht owed him money, according to court documents. She said he didn’t seem remorseful.

Tudor was found guilty of first-degree murder after a trial in June. He has a 2013 conviction for forgery in Montana and had a pending driving-under-the-influence case in Spokane County District Court when he was arrested.

Spokane County Superior Court Judge Harold Clarke said Friday that while Tudor has little previous criminal history, he didn’t see any mitigating factors to consider in his sentencing, noting the victim was shot down in his own apartment.

“In my mind, there was no explanation,” he said. “He was minding his own business at home.”

The 25-year sentence includes a five-year enhancement because a firearm was used during the crime. Tudor will receive credit for the time served in jail while awaiting trial.

“As much as we wish we could undo the entire thing, we can’t do it,” Clarke said. “It is all a tragedy.”

Members of Giesbrecht’s family fought tears as they watched the sentencing. They declined to comment after Tudor was taken back to jail but told the prosecuting attorney in the case that they were disappointed Tudor did not apologize for the killing.

Klepacki’s bond was originally set at $500,000 on his murder charge, but that was lowered to $75,000 in May 2014. He has been out of jail and on electronic home monitoring since then. His trial is set for Oct. 26.