EUGENE, Ore. -- An unemployed mill worker was sentenced Tuesday to four consecutive life prison terms and a minimum of 80 years without parole for opening fire in a tavern, killing four people and wounding 20.
In sentencing Lawrence W. Moore, Circuit Judge Edwin Allen said, 'It is imperative that the defendant never have an opportunity to rejoin the free society.
'The risks are too great. Any efforts toward rehabilitation of the defendant must be subordinate to the protection of society as a whole.'
Moore, 26, of Scio was convicted by a Lane County jury Oct. 16 of four counts of aggravated murder in the May 7 shootings at the Oregon Musem Tavern. The case was transferred on a change of venue from Marion County because of pre-trial publicity.
Taking the stand during his trial, Moore admitted opening fire with an automatic pistol into a 'ladies' night' crowd at the nightspot he frequented.
Moore said he was trying to get members of a 'syndicate' of millionaires, Jews, prostitutes and criminals who had been trying to poison him for about a year.
Moore, an unemployed mill worker, was convicted following a 2-week trial of the deliberate killing of Lori J. Cunningham 22; John W. Cooper, 27; Robert E. Hamblin, 24, and Allen L. Wilcox, 24, all of Salem.
In addition to imposing 20 years without parole on each murder charge, Allen also stipulated that Moore not be granted any work release, temporary release or employment at a forest or work camp outside the prison at any time during the course of his prison term.
Asked twice if he had any comment on the sentencing, Moore said, 'No' each time.
Marion County Deputy District Attorney Dale Penn, prosecutor in the case, said he thought the sentences were fair and just and that the 20 attempted murder charges against Moore probably would be dropped.
Moore's court appointed attorney, Michael Callahan, asked the court for concurrent sentences but the request was denied.
The judge ruled that court costs of $12,581.47 will be levied against Moore for the expense of the trial. All of Moore's assets as of May 7 will be liquidated and applied against the costs, he added.
