Bryce Peterson answers questions from Ravalli County Attorney George Corn about the photographs taken of the victim’s injuries during a sentencing hearing Friday. District Judge Jeffrey Langton sentenced Peterson to 50 years in prison, plus 20 years suspended in the kidnapping and assault case. PERRY BACKUS - Ravalli Republic

Peterson testified he had an on again, off again relationship with the victim and that he went to her home because he was worried that she was attempting suicide.

Court documents said Peterson kicked in the woman’s door on Oct. 17, 2008. Peterson slapped and kicked the victim before forcing her into his vehicle and began driving toward Missoula, the documents said.

Peterson called a Missoula hospital to say the woman had overdosed and was combative.

When she attempted to cry out, he punched her in the head and when she attempted to jump out of the vehicle in Lolo, he grabbed her by the hair and slammed her face into the console, court records said.

The two eventually wound up back in Victor, where the victim escaped. Law enforcement officials surrounded the home where Peterson was residing and the long standoff ensued.

Peterson testified Friday that he believed the victim had overdosed on lithium when he arrived at her home. He said he had to use force to get her into his pickup truck and while en route to a Missoula hospital the two had concocted a suicide pact.

Peterson said he has suffered from bipolar syndrome and suicide ideation since he was a teenager.

“There’s not been a day in my life ... when I ask myself why I’m alive and think of a different way to die,” Peterson said.

So, Peterson testified that it didn’t take much that day for him to decide to commit suicide.

“I thought she had already pulled the trigger of the gun only it was going be a very slow acting bullet,” Peterson said.

Peterson said he took the woman back to his grandfather’s home in Victor where he knew he could find guns.

Peterson testified he was on the telephone with his mother telling her that he and the victim had decided to commit suicide together when she ran out of the house.

Court records said she appeared terrified when she first encountered people outside the home.

After the hearing, Ravalli County Prosecutor Bill Fulbright said Peterson’s story didn’t ring true to either the county attorney’s office or the judge.

“I’m absolutely confident that there was no suicide pact and clearly Judge Langton saw it the same way,” Fulbright said.

In the first sentencing hearing a month ago, Langton heard witnesses testify that Peterson had a long history of abusing women with whom he had a romantic involvement.

Langton said it appeared that Peterson’s violent behavior toward women was increasing. In all the cases, Langton said, when the women rejected Peterson “all hell broke loose.”

Friday, Peterson’s attorney, Mathew Stevenson, attempted to discredit the victim’s story through testimony from Peterson’s father, a private investigator and from the defendant.

Gavin Peterson offered a detailed spreadsheet that he maintained showed the victim’s story contained inconsistencies.

Langton reminded Peterson that he had pleaded guilty to the charges detailed by the county attorney’s office.

“There is no such thing as innocent aggravated kidnapping. There is no such thing as innocent aggravated assault,” Langton said. “Circumstances are what trials are for. This is not a trial.”

After hearing Peterson read a written apology to the victim, Langton said it was his opinion the man wouldn’t respond to rehabilitation.

Langton sentenced Peterson to 50 years of prison time on charges of aggravated assault, kidnapping and assault with a weapon. He added 20 years suspended for felony intimidation and burglary.

Peterson will also be required to give up 25 percent of his prison earnings to pay for restitution to the victim.

Ravalli County Attorney George Corn said the sentence was appropriate.

“We believe his explanation of all of this happening as he was trying to save her was simply preposterous,” Corn said in his closing argument.

Log on to RavalliRepublic.com to comment on this and other stories.

Editor Perry Backus can be reached at 363-3300 or editor@ravallirepublic.com.

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WiZaRd Of HaMiLtOn wrote on Nov 17, 2009 8:39 PM:

" It's time for Bryce "Not Nice" Peterson to serve a lengthy time for the crime
behind bars, with a guilty conscience
filled with scars.

~May his next meal be chilled monkey-brains, topped with desert scorpions and camel chips~ "

JB wrote on Nov 17, 2009 12:38 PM:

" No sentence will ever be long enough after what this coward has done to tear apart so many lives. There wasn't just one victim in this case. Everyone surrounding the victim that cares for her has been victimized too.

This coward has brutally beaten at least three other women. Women that he proclaimed to love. He was, in fact, convicted and imprisoned in Arizona for these exact same and eerily similar crimes in 2002 and lesser charges in 1997 and 1993. These were just the four women brave enough to press charges. Who knows how many others have been victimized that were too afraid to come forward.

The facts in the case were so overwhelming that he decided that he couldn't win in a trial. During the sentencing hearing it was obvious to all including the judge that he was still trying to deny doing anything wrong and his parents were helping him turn it into a trial of his victims. Fake tears and phony apologies get you nowhere with a judge after you deny all responsibility and blame all of your victims (and your alleged mental illness) for what YOU did. I suppose they all beat themselves???

It is very telling that when he had his one chance to man up and come clean to make his case for a reduced sentence that he chose to blame the victim.

The prosecutors and investigators did an amazing job in creating an iron clad case for a conviction and a harsh sentence. But in the end, Bryce's cowardice made it easy for them. "

A Friend wrote on Nov 17, 2009 12:00 PM:

" Obviously the newspaper only has room to post the "hi lights" and there is more to the story. There has been a lot of speculation about the victims mental health and many things posted in the paper were quotes made by Peterson and absolutely are not true. As a friend of the victims I personally saw what Peterson put her through, and how long it took for her to remove him from her life. I have also seen the aftermath and how much she has lost, physically, mentally, and emotionally. If anyone is choosing to cast stones in her direction, perhaps you should do a bit more research and get your facts together. The victim is doing amazingly well, considering the circumstances. She realizes the effects this has done to her children, and lives with that everday. She doesn't need help...she has that. She needs people to shut the hell up and let her build her life again. "

Gip wrote on Nov 16, 2009 11:57 AM:

" This man has had a hard time with taking "Personal Responsibility" since he was 14. His disease? has always been the excuse for his behaviour. At least, now he will have 12 years without his controlling mother calling the shots. "

wrote on Nov 16, 2009 11:50 AM:

" YEAH!!!! He finally got what he deserves. Now if the victim would get the help she needs all would be good. "

HP wrote on Nov 16, 2009 9:27 AM:

" :-)

I think the County Attorney's office did an excellent job here.

Thank you. "

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