Published: August 21, 2008 12:48 pm            

Clark erupts at sentencing

BEDFORD — First-degree murderer Joseph Clark took on nearly everyone at his sentencing Thursday – the DA, the judge, even the widower – at times displaying the temper that prosecutors said led to the murder of Holly Christine Notestine.

Judge Daniel Howsare gave the Everett man time to stand and speak before ratifying the jury’s decision of life in prison with no opportunity for parole.

Clark, 49, wasted no time, throwing everything against the wall: That he was railroaded, that he cares for women and animals, even that he cradled a dying man in his arms.

Clark was convicted June 30 at his second trial for Notestine’s 2000 stabbing death near Everett. A trial during the winter ended in a hung jury.

Perhaps the most astonishing moment Thursday came when Clark leaned forward and addressed District Attorney Bill Higgins.

Abandoning his measured tone, his eyes became hard as he raised his voice and said, “I know you’re a criminal too, the whole world knows. I’ve got mine and you’ll get yours.”

Higgins just stared back from his chair 10 feet away.

A deputy lowered Clark by the shoulders back into his chair.

Higgins recently admitted to having sex in county offices with a woman not his wife, though he’s faced no charges.

Higgins said after the hearing that, “Here’s a guy who just killed somebody. And he’s going to say I’m a bad person. They want to point the finger at anyone but themselves.”

During the proceedings, Higgins noted that Clark had said he didn’t feel bad about the Notestine case.

“Regardless if he did it or not, a man lost his wife; children lost their mother. That shows the kind of person he is,” the DA told Howsare.

Clark used the court session to sound off on a variety of topics:

• He began by saying, “I do not have any remorse because I didn’t do anything wrong. I did not hurt or kill anyone that day.”

Clark said he’s never even struck anyone. Scouring his hands over his face, he said, “There’s no pictures of bruises, nothing.”

• The Everett man said he’s always loved and respected women. “Every woman I’ve ever met I’ve helped, I’ve rescued in some way.”

• Noting that he grew up on a farm, he claimed he was always the voice to say “No’’ when someone wanted to put an animal down.

• A former ironworker, Clark told a tale about when he was working in Harrisburg and a co-worker became injured.

“I saw a man die before my eyes. I held his hand,” Clark said. He said he told the boss he wouldn’t return to the job for any amount of money. “Life is so dear to me, life is so precious to me,” he said.

• Howsare acknowledged Notestine’s common-law husband, Ronnie Grubb, to speak from the public benches.

Grubb said Clark deserves everything he gets.

“Bull----!,” Clark blurted out.

• As a final comment as his sentence was received, Clark asked Judge Howsare, “In the history of this county, has anybody confessed to a crime?”

The judge dismissed him, saying he didn’t know the history of the whole county.

Clark was neither handcuffed nor shackled during Thursday’s sentencing.

The judge also sentenced Clark to five to 20 years for kidnapping, to be served concurrently, and four to 20 to be served consecutively for arson.

Police say Clark burned his own car to destroy evidence of the kidnap/murder.

Authorities believe Clark snatched Notestine away from her home after she rejected his amorous advances.

Her body was not found until early 2004, tossed over an embankment, and Clark was charged with homicide the following year.

Howsare considered Clark’s criminal history of four prior misdemeanors, including battery and marijuana possession, before imposing sentence.

“All I can say is, this isn’t over,” Clark told the court, his anger surfacing again. “Not by a long shot.”

He has maintained his innocence from the beginning.

Defense attorney Thomas Crawford of suburban Pittsburgh is expected to appeal the conviction.

        

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