Man gets 34 years for Independence murder of woman who was a witness in another case
A Pleasant Hill man was sentenced Friday to 34 years in prison for killing a woman who was a witness in a murder case he will be tried on in August.
A Jackson County judge sentenced Michael Dumas, 28, to 20 years for second-degree murder, three years for assault and 11 years for two counts of armed criminal action, all to be served consecutively.
“We’re disappointed that the sentences were run consecutively, but we’re grateful that the jury did not convict him of murder in the first degree and he won’t die in prison,” said defense attorney John Picerno.
On Nov. 18, 2018, Sarah E. Simms, 46, was shot and killed in Independence.
Simms was a witness for the state on another case involving Dumas.
On Sept. 29, 2017, Simms was in a vehicle with Dumas when he allegedly sped after another car to fire back in a gun battle on Interstate 70, leading to the death of 18-year-old Phillip J. Anderson.
Dumas is charged with second-degree murder in Anderson’s shooting. That trial is scheduled to start Aug. 10.
Dumas had been out of jail on $150,000 bond for a year when Simms was killed.
