20-year-old linked to Grunwald killing gets 6-year sentence in plea deal

PALMER — A teen involved in David Grunwald's homicide but not charged in the killing was sentenced Monday to six years in prison in Palmer Superior Court.

Devin Peterson, 20, agreed earlier this year to a plea deal on charges of evidence tampering and hindering prosecution.

Grunwald, 16, was bludgeoned with a pistol and later shot, his body dumped in a remote spot along the Knik River in November 2016. His Ford Bronco was found burned the day after he died.

Peterson as part of his plea agreed to certain facts of the case: He concealed the .40-caliber Ruger and 9mm Springfield used to pistol-whip and kill Grunwald for another teen who told him he'd killed Grunwald and needed to cover up the crime.

And Peterson lent that teen — Erick Almandinger, then 16 — and another two gas cans to torch Grunwald's Bronco.

Peterson was 18 at the time. He was never charged with murder.

The sentence handed down Monday tracked with the plea deal: three years flat time — without time off for good behavior — and a $1,500 fine for the evidence charge and three years flat time for hindering prosecution.

Peterson was already sentenced in U.S. District Court to three years for federal child pornography possession and distribution of a controlled substance to a minor.

His combined sentence is nine years.