MOUNT VERNON, Wash. – A man convicted of murdering a dog trainer whose clients included some of Seattle's most famous residents has been sentenced to 26½ years in prison.
Michiel (MIKE'-al) Oakes claimed he killed dog trainer Mark Stover — his girlfriend's ex-husband — in self-defense last year after Stover threatened him. A jury didn't buy it and convicted Oakes of first-degree murder.
The Skagit Valley Herald reports that a judge on Tuesday denied Oakes' request for a new trial and sentenced him to 26½ years, the high end of his sentencing range.
Stover's celebrity clients included members of Pearl Jam and Nirvana, moviemaker Cameron Crowe and Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz. His body has never been found.
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Information from: Skagit Valley Herald, http://www.skagitvalleyherald.com
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