Two life sentences plus 177 years for Washburn double-homicide
Murderer’s sentences deny possibility of parole
September 12, 2018
Charlea Estes-Jones
The Arkansas man convicted of murdering a Washburn woman and her grandfather three and a half years ago was handed two life sentences without parole plus an additional 177 years incarceration last week. Christopher Paschall, 41, of Springdale, Ark., was found guilty by jury of two counts of murder in the first degree, three counts of armed criminal action and one count of parental kidnapping on September 28, 2017.
Paschall was sentenced by the honorable judge Jack Al Goodman in a Newton County courtroom on Thursday, September 6, with his sentence to start immediately. Paschall was transferred out of the Barry County Jail to a Department of Corrections facility the next day, on Friday, September 7, at 8:27 a.m., according to jail records.
Paschall’s victims were Casey Brace, 29, and her grandfather, Herbert Townsend, 76. Paschall gunned the victims down in Townsend’s Washburn home on Farm Road 1055 on January 5, 2015. Brace was already deceased when officers arrived. However, Townsend managed to call 911 and identified the shooter as Paschall when officers arrived. Townsend succumbed to his injuries in a Springfield hospital later the same day.
Brace had a restraining order against Paschall prior to the incident. Paschall and Brace shared a daughter, two years old at the time, and Paschall kidnapped her following the shooting. She was found safe later that day at Paschall’s parents’ residence in Springdale. He was arrested at that residence without incident.
Paschall was originally charged in Barry County; however, the case was tried in Newton County after a change of venue was requested. Barry County Prosecuting Attorney Amy Boxx was joined by multiple other attorneys in on record on the case, including assistant attorney generals Darrell Moore and Joshua Harrel and special prosecutors.
Paschall’s jury trial lasted four days, and jurors eventually returned guilty verdicts on the six different charges. Paschall’s sentencing was initially slated for December 19, 2017, however, Paschall’s attorney filed multiple appeals on his behalf, delaying the sentencing until this month. The state announced fairly early on that it would not be seeking the death penalty against Paschall.
Paschall received life without the possibility of parole sentences for each of the two murder in the first degree charges for the deaths of Brace and Townsend. For the three armed criminal action charges, he received 90 years, 60 years and 20 years. He received an additional seven years for the parental kidnapping charge.
Paschall’s attorney filed an appeal on Friday.
Charlea Estes-Jones
The Arkansas man convicted of murdering a Washburn woman and her grandfather three and a half years ago was handed two life sentences without parole plus an additional 177 years incarceration last week. Christopher Paschall, 41, of Springdale, Ark., was found guilty by jury of two counts of murder in the first degree, three counts of armed criminal action and one count of parental kidnapping on September 28, 2017.
Paschall was sentenced by the honorable judge Jack Al Goodman in a Newton County courtroom on Thursday, September 6, with his sentence to start immediately. Paschall was transferred out of the Barry County Jail to a Department of Corrections facility the next day, on Friday, September 7, at 8:27 a.m., according to jail records.
Paschall’s victims were Casey Brace, 29, and her grandfather, Herbert Townsend, 76. Paschall gunned the victims down in Townsend’s Washburn home on Farm Road 1055 on January 5, 2015. Brace was already deceased when officers arrived. However, Townsend managed to call 911 and identified the shooter as Paschall when officers arrived. Townsend succumbed to his injuries in a Springfield hospital later the same day.
Brace had a restraining order against Paschall prior to the incident. Paschall and Brace shared a daughter, two years old at the time, and Paschall kidnapped her following the shooting. She was found safe later that day at Paschall’s parents’ residence in Springdale. He was arrested at that residence without incident.
Paschall was originally charged in Barry County; however, the case was tried in Newton County after a change of venue was requested. Barry County Prosecuting Attorney Amy Boxx was joined by multiple other attorneys in on record on the case, including assistant attorney generals Darrell Moore and Joshua Harrel and special prosecutors.
Paschall’s jury trial lasted four days, and jurors eventually returned guilty verdicts on the six different charges. Paschall’s sentencing was initially slated for December 19, 2017, however, Paschall’s attorney filed multiple appeals on his behalf, delaying the sentencing until this month. The state announced fairly early on that it would not be seeking the death penalty against Paschall.
Paschall received life without the possibility of parole sentences for each of the two murder in the first degree charges for the deaths of Brace and Townsend. For the three armed criminal action charges, he received 90 years, 60 years and 20 years. He received an additional seven years for the parental kidnapping charge.
Paschall’s attorney filed an appeal on Friday.