A Thurston County judge sentenced two Olympia men to mid-range sentences following the 2015 assault of an Olympia police officer.
Judge Erik Price could have given the men longer, or shorter sentences, but sentenced Bryson Chaplin to 10 and a half months. He was convicted of assaulting the officer and a Safeway manager. He was also convicted of theft for stealing beer before the assault.
Chaplin's brother, Andre Thompson, was convicted of one assault charge. He received a two-month sentence.
Brothers convicted of assaulting Olympia PD officer taken into custody. pic.twitter.com/ScjUfxSg3q
— Drew Mikkelsen (@drewmikkelsenk5) July 31, 2017
In May, a Thurston County jury found Chaplin and Thompson guilty of a lesser third-degree assault charge. The judge ruled a mistrial for the second-degree assault charge.
Sentencing was originally scheduled for July 14, but Chaplain switched attorneys, pushing the date to July 31.
Before the sentencing, Olympia police officer Ryan Donald, gave a victim's impact statement.
His 18-minute speech criticized those who questioned the shooting, protesters, media, and defense attorneys.
He said the brothers hid behind the race card and told the judge the shooting was not racially motivated.
Chaplin and Thompson are African American.
He blamed the brothers for deciding to be aggressive with him and the Safeway manager that night.
"They thought they could assault me as well," said Donald, "And both ended up as victims of their terrible decision making and own stupidity."
Chaplin did not speak before sentencing.
Thompson thanked the judge but did not offer any explanation or apology.
"I hope that everything in your choice making is good," said Thompson before learning his sentence.
Donald previously testified that the men refused to obey his commands before they started coming at him. Chaplin raised a skateboard, and Donald testified he feared Chaplin would use the skateboard as a weapon, so he opened fire.
Donald shot both men and was cleared of wrong-doing.
Chaplin remains in a wheelchair and will not be able to walk again, according to his attorney.
The brothers were ordered to be taken into custody Monday, following sentencing.
The Associated Press, Drew Mikkelsen, and Allison Sundell contributed.
