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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Jackson County's GMO ban is legal under state law, judge rules ... Second suspect charged in February arson in Medford ... Jackson County run now an official qualifier for Boston Marathon ... Jackson County's GMO ban is legal under state law, judge rules ... Second suspect charged in February arson in Medford ... Jackson County run now an official qualifier for Boston Marathon ... GRANTS PASS Gary Goins takes deal, avoids death penalty in exchange for true life sentence Comment By Chris Bristol Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Chris Bristol Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted May. 27, 2015 at 8:37 PM By Chris Bristol Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted May. 27, 2015 at 8:37 PM » Social News In a surprise move, Gary   Goins   avoided a possible death sentence in exchange for life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2011 ambush slayings of his brother and sister-in-law at their secluded home in the Hugo area. Goins , 62, was sentenced Tuesday morning in Josephine County Circuit Court. Prosecutors were not immediately available to discuss the deal, which came in the middle of the penalty phase of   Goins ' trial after he was found guilty last week of aggravated murder in the deaths of Dennis and Susan   Goins . Jane Claus, one of the defendant's attorneys, called the deal with the prosecution a stipulated sentence. "I think everybody’s best interests have been served, and the resolution has saved the taxpayers of Josephine County hundreds of thousands of dollars," she said. The couple's bodies were discovered on Monday, Oct. 24, 2011, at their secluded home on Mountain Greens Lane near the Red Mountain Golf Course north of Grants Pass. Evidence at trial suggested the defendant, who was from Pollock Pines, Calif., killed the couple three days earlier after they cut him off financially, hiding on their property and gunning them down as they arrived home in separate cars. The same jury that convicted   Goins   was taking testimony in the penalty phase about the defendant's character and the personal lives of his victims. Under Oregon’s aggravated murder statutes, the jury had three possible sentences on the table: death, life without parole and life with a minimum of 30 years. The deal was not publicly announced by either side in the case and ended a trial in the courtroom of Judge Lindi Baker that lasted more than a month. By Chris Bristol Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Chris Bristol Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted May. 27, 2015 at 8:37 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501