Regina Goodale, 36, Minot, appeared in North Central District Court in Minot on Wednesday before Judge Todd Cresap, who sentenced her to 40 years with five years suspended. Cresap required Goodale to complete 10 years of supervised probation upon release and gave her credit for 517 days already served and 74 days of earned good time.

Cresap heard testimony from the family of the victim, Wade Goodale, as well as sentencing recommendations from Regina Goodale’s attorney Steven Mottinger and Ward County State’s Attorney Roza Larson.

Wade Goodale’s mother, Mary Kay Miller, testified, describing Feb. 24, 2022, as the worst day of her life. She said the moment she heard about her son’s murder she knew Regina Goodale had been involved.

“I’ve had three of Wade’s and Regina’s children in my care every day since Wade’s murder. Nearly two years later, they still tell me how much they miss their dad and how they just want him to come home. The sadness and pain they have to work through is heartbreaking. My grandchildren will never get to see their father again, and I can’t imagine the kind of trauma I’ll have to work through with them when they become aware of their mother’s role in their father’s death,” Miller said. “Although Regina has been found guilty, I still don’t have closure.”

Charles Crane/MDN Mary Kay Miller, mother of Wade Goodale, testifies during the sentencing of Regina Goodale.

Defense attorney Steven Mottinger didn’t call any witnesses nor did his client elect to make a statement. Mottinger brought what he believed were mitigating factors in Goodale’s sentencing despite the “testy trial.” Mottinger expressed his belief to the court that his client’s role in the death of her husband was much different from her co-defendant Mathew Anderson, who was found to have assaulted and shot the victim. Anderson was sentenced to life without parole several weeks ago.

“Ms. Goodale was just as surprised as anyone was when the pistol went off. I don’t believe it was her intent that Wade Goodale be killed. Based on my understanding of her role here, I think she needs to be treated substantially different from Mr. Anderson,” Mottinger said before asking for a sentence of 20 years in prison with all but five years suspended.

Larson pushed back, pointing to aspects of the presentence investigation she said showed Goodale’s continued denials of her involvement despite the evidence presented at trial and the jury’s verdict.

“Let’s remember, but for her, Mr. Anderson would not have been there doing what he did. The defendant continues to blame others for the murder of her husband. She blames her boyfriend. She blames her friends. She blames her attorney for the jury finding her guilty. Basically it’s everybody’s fault except for hers. There’s no accountability,” Larson said. “She had her boyfriend and friend lure him in to be assaulted. Reasonable people get divorced. They don’t solicit for revenge, having someone being beaten up and ultimately murdered. There is no justification for her conduct.”

Larson concluded by pointing to Regina Goodale’s admitted use of methamphetamine and her failure to call for medical help for her husband after he was shot, instead hiding out at a friend’s house, where she and Anderson then had sex. Larson requested a sentence of life without parole.

“Her children are already suffering from undue hardship from the death of their father, a loss that was caused by her actions. She set the train in motion that resulted in his death,” Larson said. “This was a cold, calculated murder. There’s no reason to deviate or provide leniency.”

Cresap acknowledged a slight distinction between the cases of the two co-defendants before making his ruling but did call special attention to the role that methamphetamine use played in the actions of both Anderson and Goodale.

“I do think there is one critical difference between Mr. Anderson and Ms. Goodale. As an accomplice, you can agree to one crime but are stuck with the crime that is committed. But I think it does make a difference when it comes to the sentence. I didn’t hear evidence that Ms. Goodale wanted him killed,” Cresap said. “Does that reduce the seriousness of it? Not a lot. It was still a despicable thing to do to have a person beat up. It was a despicable thing to be there – to have that done to someone that you supposedly at one time loved and to walk away as they’re bleeding out from a gunshot wound.”