Cop-Killer Asks For Clemency Lonnie Link Wants Sentence Of Life Imprisonment Reduced

Fri., Dec. 13, 1996

By Adam Lynn adaml@spokesman.com

A man sentenced to spend his life in prison for killing a Spokane police detective is appealing to Gov. Mike Lowry for clemency.

Lonnie Link, 38, has asked that his sentence of life imprisonment without parole be reduced, according to a petition filed with Lowry’s office.

Link’s attorneys are scheduled to be in Olympia today to argue their client’s case before the governor’s Board of Clemency.

Link, serving his time at the state penitentiary in Walla Walla, is not expected to attend the hearing.

The board will hear arguments for and against the request, then make a recommendation to Lowry. The governor will make the final decision.

Relatives of slain detective Brian Orchard, police representatives and members of the National Rifle Association are expected to attend the hearing to argue against a reduction.

Doug Orchard of Spokane, the victim’s brother, will also address the board.

“I believe the jury gave (Link) clemency when they gave him his life,” Orchard said Thursday. “They could have given him the death penalty. It was a death penalty case.

“I don’t believe that board has a right, or the governor or me or anyone else has the right, to undermine what that jury decided in 1984. To do that is just to destroy our system of law and order.”

NRA officials agreed.

“By this time next month, a travesty could be visited upon the citizens and law enforcement of Washington. Clemency could be granted where none is appropriate - for the murder of a peace officer,” the NRA said in a written statement.

Link’s lawyers could not be reached for comment.

In 1984, a Spokane County jury deliberated for nearly 40 hours before convicting Link of aggravated first-degree murder in Orchard’s death.

The father of three died the previous July, 33 hours after Link shot him during a police stakeout.

Detectives believed Link and another man were trying to extort money from a Wenatchee gun dealer and were tailing the two men the night of July 23.

Orchard, 38, was walking toward Link’s car near a downtown motel when a shot was fired from the window of the Lincoln Continental. The bullet struck the detective in the head.

Link was a 25-year-old career criminal on parole from a Montana prison when he shot Orchard. He had spent several months prior to the shooting committing burglaries and robberies across Eastern Washington.

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