Wife of accused trooper killer to be sentenced today

Sarah Knysz enters the Mason County courtroom, 8-months pregnant.

LUDINGTON — The sentencing of a 20-year-old Irons woman, who pleaded guilty to being part of the murder of a Michigan State Police trooper, will take place at 2:30 p.m today at the Mason County Courthouse.

On Nov. 5, Sarah Knysz pleaded guilty in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court to accessory to murder of a police officer after the fact and also to unlawfully driving away a motor vehicle. At that time Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola offered her a chance to plea guilty, unconditionally, to the two charges. She faces up to five years in prison on the counts, that would run concurrent. Spaniola said the Manistee County prosecutor’s office is likely to drop the charges of unlawfully driving away a vehicle against her in that county.

During her Nov. 5 testimony, Sarah Knysz told the court how her husband, Eric Knysz, 19, killed Trooper Paul Butterfield during a routine traffic stop on North Custer Road in Free Soil Township on Sept. 9. See related story.  Spaniola said through the unconditional plea, Sarah Knysz will be expected to testify against her husband during his trial, scheduled to begin Feb. 18, 2014.