First-time felony offender gets 15 days for vandalism spree

A San Juan Island man who pummeled a couple’s cars with eggs, tossed a block of concrete through the rear window of one and repeatedly vandalized their vehicles has been sentenced to 15 days in jail.

On June 27, Travis James Webster, 20, was ordered to serve 15 days in jail and to pay $3,179 in fines, fees and restitution after pleading guilty two weeks earlier in San Juan County Superior Court to one count of first-degree malicious mischief, a Class B felony.

He will be allowed to serve 15 days on work crew in lieu of jail at his own expense if he qualifies for the program.

First-degree malicious mischief carries maximum penalties of 10 years in prison, a $20,000 fine, or both, however, the standard range of sentencing set by the state is 0-90 days in jail.

Because it was Webster’s first felony conviction, he qualified for sentencing as a first-time offender and a reduced sentence.

According to court documents, Webster launched the vandalism spree in June 2007 by siphoning gas out of vehicles at the man’s auto repair shop and pelting many of the cars with eggs.

Several months later, he reportedly hurled a large cement block through the rear window of a car parked outside the couple’s home and vandalized the same vehicle several more times.

The couple and their property were reportedly targeted by Webster because a criminal case involving the husband, based largely on allegations made by Webster’s mother, was later dismissed, according to court records.

Initially, Webster denied taking part in the vandalism when confronted by authorities late last year. He reportedly confessed earlier this year and was charged in March with the felony offense.

As part of the sentence, Webster was ordered to pay $2,629 in restitution for the damage that the block of concrete caused to the couple’s car.

Contact Journal of the San Juans Editor Scott Rasmussen at srasmussen@sanjuanjournal.com or 1-360-378-5696.

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