Son Pleads Gulty to Murder of Mother and Arson

From the San Juan County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office

Sentenced in Juvenile Court for Murder, Adult Court for Arson

Taylor D. Hammel, 16, of Friday Harbor, Washington, pleaded guilty today, November 2, 2011, to two charges in connection with the tragic death of his mother, Sharon Hammel, and starting a fire in his residence.  Taylor pleaded guilty to murder in the first degree –domestic violence for the death of his mother on April 3, 2011.  He also pleaded guilty to arson in the first degree – domestic violence for a fire that he started in his dead mother’s bedroom while a tenant slept in an apartment attached to the house.

The guilty pleas were made to Judge Donald E. Eaton of the San Juan County Superior Court.  In April, when Taylor was age 15, the Prosecutors filed the murder and arson charges in the juvenile division of the Superior Court and also requested that the case be transferred to adult court.

Today, Prosecutors withdrew their request to transfer the murder charge to adult court, Taylor pleaded guilty, and Judge Eaton sentenced Taylor to confinement in a juvenile facility for the maximum term to age 21 years on the murder charge.

Next, the Prosecutor and Defense attorneys requested that the court transfer the arson charge to adult court.  Judge Eaton agreed and made the findings that the charge of arson in the first degree is appropriate to transfer to adult court.  Judge Eaton then sentenced Taylor to an “exceptional” sentence of 31 months in state prison to be served consecutive to the murder charge together with two years supervision by the Department of Corrections. 

The papers filed with the court allege that Taylor beat, choked and stabbed his mother in the early morning hours of April 3, 2011.  A handwritten note found in his bedroom explained that he had killed his mother because “I was just so mad.”  After writing the note, Taylor set fire to the bedroom near an electrical item in an effort to destroy evidence of the murder and shift suspicion away from him.  Only after the fire enveloped the bed and became very hot did he call 911 and then alert a boarder in an apartment in the house.

Prosecuting Attorney Randall K. Gaylord explained that the combination of juvenile and adult court provided an opportunity to achieve maximum opportunities for treatment and rehabilitation and, at the same time, impose a substantial and appropriate prison sentence as punishment.  “Transferring the case to adult court helped protect the community.  Juvenile court would have to set Taylor free at age 21, and that is too soon in terms of his overall maturity and development,” said Gaylord.  This approach will keep Taylor under the watch of the Department of Corrections almost a decade — until he turns 25.

Gaylord added that, “This resolution was possible because of the remarkable coordination and investigation by local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.”