A Vancouver bail bondsman who said he was just doing his job when he burst into the wrong home in search of a fugitive and held three occupants at gunpoint was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in prison.
Jason Robert Stomps, 41, of Amboy appeared in Clark County Superior Court to be sentenced for first-degree burglary, three counts of second-degree kidnapping and three counts of second-degree assault — all of which carried firearm enhancements. Stomps was found guilty earlier this month on all of the charges during a jury trial.
The charges stem from a March 20, 2014, incident in which Stomps forced his way into a Vancouver home, brandished a gun, and ordered two occupants to handcuff themselves. None of the three people inside the house in the 1200 block of Northeast 65th Street was the fugitive being sought, according to court records.
He potentially faced a maximum sentence of 30 to 33 years in prison, but the prosecution recommended he serve a shorter sentence based on several factors. Stomps was a licensed bail bondsman at the time and had no prior felony convictions. The crimes also were carried out in a single course of conduct, and no one was physically injured.
Deputy Prosecutor Dan Gasperino said while the state did charge Stomps for his crimes, “his criminal intent was arguably different than that of someone going into a stranger’s home to rob them. But, the impact is the same.”
He said that the prosecution was put in a “tough spot” because Stomps refused to take any plea deal or accept responsibility for his actions.
The firearm enhancement on the burglary charge automatically adds five years to any potential sentence. The other charges carry firearm enhancements that each tack on an additional three years to any sentence. By law, firearm enhancement sentences must run consecutively.
Gasperino recommended Judge Derek Vanderwood agree to merge the assault and kidnapping charges and to run the remaining charges concurrently, in an effort to lessen the total sentence. Vanderwood agreed to do so and said if the law allowed him to, he would have reduced the sentence another three years.
Shorter sentence sought
Defense attorney Michael Green argued that Stomps should receive a five-year sentence because he had been offered a plea deal with a substantially shorter sentence.
“He deserves to go to prison, and he deserves to go to prison for a long time. This was a heinous, heinous situation,” Green said.
However, he said, there are defendants accused of more serious crimes who are being offered less prison time.
Gasperino countered that the defense’s request was “preposterous” and would undermine the point of defendants going to trial instead of taking a plea deal.
“Mr. Stomps put himself in this situation. He put the victims in this situation, and he put the state in this situation,” he said. “He refused to take responsibility on the stand.”
Gasperino added that Stomps has placed blame on everyone except himself.
Victims’ statements
During the hearing, two of the victims and their mother read statements to the court.
Annette Waleske said her two children, Tayler and Quincey, and a friend, Nathan Panoth, who were all at the home at the time of the incident, will have mental and emotional scars for the rest of their lives.
“The events of that day shattered the safe and comfortable environment that my husband and I have worked so hard to provide for our children,” she said. “Mr. Stomps destroyed that feeling of security within mere minutes and has never once, to date, taken responsibility for his role in the situation.”
Quincey Waleske, who was 20 at the time of the incident, said he’s had countless sleepless nights because he’s worried someone could be at his house. His sister, then 18, said the trauma she experienced can never be erased. She added that it’s still difficult for her to stay at home alone.
“That night, I thought I was going to lose my life,” Tayler Waleske said.
All of the victims said they have no sympathy for Stomps but said they feel sad for his young children, who were present at the sentencing.
When asked if he had anything to say, Stomps said, “I’m sorry those people had to go through that.”
Judge Vanderwood said the word “tragic” best describes the entirety of the situation.
“The bottom line, Mr. Stomps, is that although you were a licensed bail bond agent, that didn’t exempt you from the law,” he said.
Vanderwood ordered Stomps serve a total prison sentence of 15 years, with 18 months of community custody following his release. He also must pay $727.52 in restitution to the victims for breaking down their door. He was given credit for 16 days in custody.
“This was clearly a horrifying situation for the victims involved and my heart goes out to them. I do feel the sentence in this particular case is longer than warranted, but the judge didn’t have a choice,” Green said after the hearing.
He added that Stomps plans to appeal his convictions.
