How do you get two life sentences for one murder?

Question

Actor Woody Harrelson's father, Charles Harrelson, has died in the federal Supermax prison in Colorado, where he was serving two life sentences for killing a U.S. judge in Texas. I'm just wondering how his sentence was doubled, was it because he killed a judge? How about some expert law-person answering this one. Thanx

Answer 1

Either one of two things happened:

1. He was charged with more than one crime. Yes, he killed a judge, but was he carrying an illegal weapon? Did it involve breaking and entering? Also, what about his past? People wonder why petty crimes get such long sentences in comparison to worse crimes with lesser sentences. Well, did he have a clean record beforehand or has he had a few run ins with the law before? Was anyone taken hostage? It could really be a number of things!

2. He screwed up in prison. Sometimes inmates who are "lifers" feel as if they have nothing to lose. Did he threaten another inmate, possibly assault another inmate or a corrections officer? Inmates can be charged with "street crimes" and have time added onto their sentences.

Answer 2

Usually, a defendant is charged with Murder and other charges. such as felony murder (committing murder during the commission of a felony), perhaps a weapons charge, etc. One can get a life sentence on each of the offenses, depending on the jurisdiction. The Judge may then run the sentences concurrently.

Answer 3

He might have received one under state laws for the murder, and a separte sentence under federal laws for killing a federal judge.

Or he might have received one for the murder, and another for some crime relating to harming any judge.

In either situation, double jeopardy wouldn't apply. Either because the prosecutions where by separate sovereigns, or becuase they were for distinct (even if overlapping) crimes.

Answer 4

Just lucky I guess! The rest of us I mean.

Answer 5

He was convicted of multiple charges.

Answer 6

maybe the judge was pregnant