A 21-year-old Vancouver man was sentenced to nearly 16 years in prison Wednesday for his role in a shooting and home-invasion robbery over marijuana.
Andrew Adams-Mott received 189 months on a first-degree assault charge.
Clark County Superior Court Judge Bernard Veljacic said he chose a middle-range punishment for the assault charge since Adams-Mott was not the shooter, but he noted the young man would serve the majority of the prison term because the charge is a class A felony and a deadly weapon was used during the robbery.
“The law calls for accomplice liability. … If you’re in for a dime, you’re in for a dollar. You’re in for the whole thing,” Veljacic said.
Adams-Mott was originally charged with first- and second-degree assault, burglary and robbery in connection with the Dec. 10 shooting at a Shumway neighborhood home. He pleaded guilty to the single assault charge in May.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Vancouver police were called at about 8:50 p.m. to a report of a disturbance with a weapon at a residence in the 3300 block of F Street.
Resident Leif Eiesland told police Adams-Mott forcefully entered the home with several armed men, ordered him to lie on the floor and asked, “Where’s the dope?” the affidavit says.
Sandrisha Wesley was in the living room when the men came inside. Eiesland said he heard a commotion and one gunshot. He then heard Wesley screaming, according to the affidavit.
The assailants ran out the front door while Eiesland ran out the back and called 911. He later went back inside and found Wesley had been hurt, he said. She was taken via ambulance to a hospital.
Eiesland told police he believes the men stole a couple of jars of marijuana, according to court documents.
Senior Deputy Prosecutor Anna Klein said the defendant denied any responsibility for the shooting. He falsely claimed that he was unaware his acquaintances were going to rob Eiesland, and he was forced to participate, Klein said.
“Leif thought the defendant was his friend, and (Adams-Mott) used that” to commit the robbery, she said.
Klein said Adams-Mott refused to work with the state to bring the shooter to justice. She played portions of two phone calls Adams-Mott made from the Clark County Jail. In the recordings, he states, “I was there. I didn’t do anything, though,” and, “I don’t do that snitchin’ s—, you know?”
Wesley, the shooting victim, almost lost her leg, Klein said. She was unable to walk until recently, according to the prosecutor.
Wesley told the judge during the hearing that the traumatic experience has changed her. She said he avoids going outside, and if she does, she does not wear shorts because she’s afraid people will stare at her scar, a constant reminder of the multiple surgeries and eight months in bed that she endured.
“This could have been a different story. I could have been dead. I was just in the house. … I don’t know why this happened to me. I don’t know why getting that weed was so important,” she said.
Defense attorney Steven Rucker placed two empty chairs in front of the defense table. He said the chairs should be occupied by the shooter and an accomplice. Rucker described his client as a young criminal, but also a puppet, calling him a fool numerous times during his argument.
Rucker asked the judge to consider Adams-Mott’s youth and impulsiveness — partly caused by bipolar and attention deficit disorders — when deciding the appropriate punishment. He argued for a 10-year sentence, which is below what is generally imposed for first-degree assault involving a weapon.
When given the chance to speak, Adams-Mott said his choice to withhold information was not selfish.
“Your honor, I fear for my family. I may not sound like it on the phone (recordings), but if I gave up that information it could cause them harm,” he said.
