MOUNT VERNON, Wash. — The man accused of shooting a Mount Vernon police officer in the head 3-years-ago was found guilty Thursday.
After more than 3-weeks on trial, 47-year-old Ernesto Lee Rivas was convicted of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon in the shooting that left former officer Michael McClaughry blind.
The defense had argued the shot was actually fired by one of the teens who had been with Rivas, but jurors rejected the idea, looking at phone calls and messages Rivas made after the shootout with police saying he shot a cop.
KOMO reports based on the 3-strikes law, Rivas now faces life in prison.
McClaughry says he can now look forward to the future and is excited for his daughter’s wedding next year.