Bend man facing murder trial for killing mother pleads guilty to manslaughter, faces 27-year prison term
Barney Lerten
(Update: Adding two other charges, likely sentences)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Less than three weeks before his murder trial for killing his mother, a Bend man has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter, along with two other charges, and now faces a likely prison term of nearly 27 years.
Sentencing is scheduled July 22 for Joshua Lawrence Smith, 42. He originally was arrested on a second-degree murder charge in the March 20, 2024 killing of his mother, Janice Marie Smith, 59, at the Legacy Landing Apartments in northeast Bend.
Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels told KTVZ News last year that Smith’s mother died of blunt force trauma after a “violent physical interaction” between the mother and son.
Smith’s eight-day murder trial initially was set for April, but was delayed three months at his attorney’s request, seeking more time to prepare and review evidence. He will be sentenced on the day it was set to begin.
The murder charge alleged Smith “unlawfully and intentionally” caused his mother’s death. In the plea petition Smith signed on July 3 and included below, he admitted having “unlawfully and recklessly” caused her death “under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life.”
The petition says prosecutors and the defense will jointly recommend that Circuit Judge Alycia Herriott sentence Smith to 20 years in prison, including 10 years as a Measure 11 crime and the other 10 for which he would be “eligible for good time.” He would also be ordered to pay $2,010 in crime victim restitution.
He also admitted to criminal mistreatment in the killing, a charge connected to the victim’s senior age. That brings a recommended five-year prison term, which would include 33 months served consecutively to the manslaughter conviction and 27 months concurrently
Smith also signed a separate plea petition on July 2, admitting to aggravated harassment that will bring a recommended 50 months (just over four years) in prison, admitting he spat on a Bend Police detective.
Joshua Smith plea petitionDownload
Joshua Smith criminal mistreatment plea petitionDownload