A Vancouver man who lured another man to his home, where two others allegedly assaulted and robbed him in December 2014, was sentenced Wednesday to four years in prison.
Jason E. Stinson, 32, was sentenced in Clark County Superior Court after previously pleading guilty to second-degree theft, third-degree assault, unlawful imprisonment, methamphetamine possession and forgery related to the Dec. 26, 2014, incident.
He initially faced charges of first-degree kidnapping, first-degree robbery, second-degree theft and second-degree assault. However, those charges were either downgraded or dismissed in exchange for his guilty pleas.
Another co-defendant, Scott William Thomas, 25, was sentenced last spring to more than eight years in prison, and a third co-defendant, Raymond J. Femling, 31, faces similar charges and is still set to go to trial.
The men are all suspected of helping to lure the victim, James Braithwaite, to 2108 N.E. 40th Circle in the Image neighborhood, because they assumed he was “a snitch,” according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Superior Court.
Stinson invited Braithwaite to his residence, and when he arrived, Femling and Thomas punched and kicked him multiple times. Femling then burned Braithwaite’s arm with a methamphetamine pipe, causing second-degree burns. Stinson retrieved a pillowcase and rope, and the men threatened to kill him, court records said.
Femling told Braithwaite he would kill him if he “talked to anybody.” Stinson then followed Braithwaite home “to keep him in fear,” the affidavit said.
During Stinson’s hearing, the prosecution said there’s been some dispute as to what Stinson’s role was during the incident but said he was definitely an accomplice.
His attorney, Susan Stauffer, said Stinson barely knew the victim or the other men involved. She said he went along with the assailants because he was fearful and didn’t want to end up like the victim.
Stauffer argued he should receive a prison-based drug offender sentencing alternative rather than the 48-month sentence recommended by Deputy Prosecutor James Smith.
Judge Gregory Gonzales ordered Stinson serve the 48-month sentence and a year of community custody. He was given credit for 366 days in custody.
