PORT ANGELES — A 40-year-old Forks man has been sentenced to eight months in jail for threatening to kill a 17-year-old teen.
Montrel Lee Sharpless was sentenced Wednesday by Clallam County Superior Court Judge Brian Coughenour, court records show.
A Clallam County jury convicted Sharpless of felony harassment-threats to kill Aug. 17 after two days of witness testimony.
Sharpless will receive credit for the 127 days he has already served plus good time as determined by Clallam County jail staff, according to the warrant of commitment.
Forks police said Sharpless threatened to kill the youth during an altercation in his trailer at Rainforest Mobile Home Park in Forks on April 3, according to the arrest narrative.
Police alleged that Sharpless was looking for a knife during the scuffle.
The victim’s father testified that he forced his way into the trailer and freed his son from Sharpless’ grasp, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Steve Johnson has said.
Neighbors testified that Sharpless also confronted and threatened a man whom he believed was a bad influence on the boy, Johnson said.
Officer Brent Kempster testified that Sharpless made graphic and violent comments after his arrest, saying he would stomp on the lawman’s face and eat his children, Johnson said.
The jury was unable to reach a verdict on a misdemeanor assault charge against Sharpless that involved the same boy, said Johnson, who prosecuted the case on behalf of the state.
The sentence handed down by Coughenour was the middle of a standard range of four to 12 months.
Sharpless had past felony convictions for assault of a police officer and misdemeanor convictions for assault, disorderly conduct and indecent exposure, Johnson said in an Aug. 17 news release.
Coughenour signed post-conviction orders preventing Sharpless from having contact with the victim or possessing firearms, court papers show.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsula dailynews.com.
