A Vancouver man who was accused of kidnapping a couple whom he suspected had taken his cellphone was sentenced Thursday to a year in the county jail.
Trevor L. Knowles, 26, previously pleaded guilty in Clark County Superior Court to second-degree robbery and unlawful imprisonment stemming from the incident on Dec. 19, 2014.
Knowles initially faced charges of first-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree kidnapping and harassment-death threats. Those charges were either dismissed or downgraded as part of a plea deal.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Knowles confronted Braydon King and Tahara Widdoes in the 10000 block of Southeast Mill Plain Boulevard and accused them of stealing his cellphone while they were together at a mutual friend’s house. They denied taking the phone.
Knowles forced the couple into a vehicle and drove them to the residence where he’d lost his cellphone, according to the affidavit. He allegedly threatened the couple with a knife.
King offered his own cellphone to Knowles in order to convince Knowles to release him and Widdoes, according to court documents.
During sentencing, Knowles’ attorney, Susan Stauffer, said her client “acted somewhat inappropriately” given the circumstances but said Knowles believed the victims did take his phone. She said his actions were “very out of the ordinary” for him.
Judge Suzan Clark told Knowles he made an “expensive choice” and said she hopes he learned not to take matters into his own hands.
Clark agreed to follow the attorneys’ sentencing recommendation of 12 months in jail and 12 months of community custody after Knowles’ release. Knowles may qualify for work release.
