"I was at the scene the night of the murder and, unfortunately, have first-hand knowledge of the condition she was in, so I am prejudiced," Commonwealth's Attorney Richie Bottoms said after Tuesday's resentencing. "I can never excuse or condone that conduct to the point of Mr. Anderson ever being allowed to walk the streets again."
Members of Pulliam's family were present Tuesday and spoke with Bottoms afterward.
"I think they are satisfied by the judge's decision to give the maximum that the law allows, but they are obviously disappointed in the supreme court ruling that the life without parole sentence cannot stand," the prosecutor said.
In jail since the day after Pulliam's murder, Anderson will get credit for time already served, which is almost three years. He will be eligible for his first parole hearing in 22 years.
Faces other charges based on threats to judge
Anderson has another case pending for allegedly threatening Peckler after the judge imposed the original sentence. Anderson reportedly told Mercer Jailer Cleo Baker that he would be on the streets again someday and "Judge Peckler would pay."
That case will be heard by special judge Thomas P. Jones and will be heard in Anderson County. No trial date has been set but Bottoms speculated it could come up in March.
The prosecutor said that even if Anderson is found guilty of threatening Peckler, it would not add any time to the prison sentence imposed Tuesday.
"I don't think there can be additional years to a life sentence," Bottoms said.
A conviction might change Anderson classification within the corrections system and could come into play when Anderson comes up for parole, depending on how he handles the rest of his incarceration, Bottoms said.
"A lot of attention will be paid to his actions," he said. "If he winds up being a model prisoner, so to speak, I don't know if (the threat case) would have any bearing. If he continues to have issue and problems within the system, then this case will continue to be looked at."
