THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. — Friday, the Thurston County Courthouse served as a place of remembrance for 37-year-old Nathaniel “Alex” Montoya.
Alex was stabbed to death in the early morning hours of April 30, 2023.
Kevin Johnson was found guilty of the crime and was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison.
Court documents say Johnson, along with his brothers, Michael and Mathew, and his father, Steven Johnson, were arrested days after Alex’s mother, Shauna Montoya, found him stabbed and beaten on the roadway of East End Street Northwest.
During the sentencing hearing, she recounted the grisly injuries that ended Alex’s life and recalled his final moments.
“I went to him and saw he was in the full fetal position, face covered with both arms, I knew I needed to help,” she said. “I said I’m here, and slowly picked up his hand and rolled him over. I could hear the rattle of death in his breathing, and I saw his face, and I realized it was Alex.”
Court documents say Johnson, his father, and two brothers came across Alex while looking for someone they claimed banged on the mobile home, telling them to leave the neighborhood.
In the hearing, Johnson’s attorney claimed Johnson was trying to protect his father, but prosecutors say that his actions show otherwise.
“We don’t have the bloody clothes because those were thrown away,” said Thurston County Lead Prosecutor Randy Trick. “There was very little blood on the outside of the RV because Kevin and Steven Johnson bought bleach at the Chehalis Wal-Mart and cleaned the outside of their RV. All of that makes this not a heroic act, but a cowardly act and a cowardly response.”
Before he was sentenced, Johnson addressed the court himself, apologizing to Alex’s family and promising to undergo alcohol and drug treatment.
However, the judge said he’d have to seek that treatment behind bars.
“I do believe you’re in a place where the only place left to go is up,” said Judge Sharonda Amamilo. “There are two roads in prison that I’m aware of. There’s the path that doesn’t help you into re-entry into the community, and a path that does help you into re-entry into the community. And that’s going to involve yourself and any positive thing that you are asked to do or that’s made available to you.”
After Johnson serves his time in prison, the Department of Corrections will place Johnson under community supervision for 36 months. Johnson’s father was sentenced to two years in jail and is still in custody. Johnson’s brothers were both sentenced to a year each as part of a plea agreement. However, the two brothers were released in January after being held in Thurston County Jail since last May.