A Vancouver man who intentionally ran over a man with his truck following an argument last September was sentenced Thursday to 10 years and four months in prison.
Brandon Gorham, 32, was convicted by a Clark County Superior Court jury last week of first-degree assault and hit-and-run resulting in injury stemming from the Sept. 10, 2016, crash near the corners of Tennessee Lane and North Garrison Road. Jurors acquitted him of attempted first-degree murder.
The victim, then-27-year-old Zachery Lucore, survived but suffered fractures to his pelvis, face, ribs and spine, a collapsed lung, and abrasions all over his body, among other injuries.
Shortly before the crash, the two men — who were strangers — had been in a verbal altercation outside Gorham’s residence in the Vancouver Heights neighborhood. Lucore had been in the area of Gorham’s house to visit a friend, but she wasn’t home when he arrived.
Lucore testified at trial that Gorham threatened to run him over during their argument, and he threatened to cut Gorham. Lucore then walked away.
Deputy Prosecutor Aaron Bartlett argued that an enraged and intoxicated Gorham then chased down and ran over Lucore.
However, Gorham’s defense attorney, Chris Ramsay, argued that his client was intoxicated and accidently hit Lucore with his truck. He had intended to catch up with him to beat him up, not run him over.
On Thursday, Gorham said he’s had time to think about his actions.
“I’m terribly sorry that all of this happened,” he told Judge Scott Collier.
Gorham faced a sentencing range of 102 to 136 months. Bartlett asked for the top of the range. He argued Gorham has not taken responsibility for his actions or shown any remorse or regret for the victim.
Ramsay said Gorham does regret what happened to Lucore and described it as an “isolated incident.” He said Gorham is focused on making positive changes in his life.
“I think he’s had his last drink, your honor,” Ramsay said.
He asked Collier to sentence Gorham to no more than 9 years and 11 months.
After handing down his sentence, Collier told Gorham he would have liked to hear more from him about how his actions impacted the victim.
In addition to his sentence, Gorham will serve 36 months of community custody and must undergo substance abuse and anger management evaluations and treatment. He is not to have contact with Lucore for 20 years.
Gorham was given credit for a year and a day in custody.
