TACOMA — A Makah tribal member who fled the Neah Bay jail and then assaulted a police officer in an attempt to escape has been sentenced to 15 months in prison, U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes announced.
Brandon Joseph Eaton, 32, was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma. His sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Eaton was sentenced for escaping custody July 15.
According to court records, Eaton was being escorted back to his cell after making a telephone call when he ran from the police station and refused to stop when ordered by police.
With the help of other community members, the officer who was escorting Eaton chased him down and subdued him.
The officer was repeatedly punched in the face and head and was bitten on the hand, court papers said.
The officer suffered cuts that required 19 stitches, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
“If an officer gets injured in the line of duty such as this, it will not go without consequence,” U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle said at Eaton’s sentencing.
As part of his sentence, Eaton was ordered to pay $338 in restitution to the officer as compensation for time off work and additional child care costs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
In asking for a prison sentence, Neah Bay Police Chief Jasper Bruner wrote: “This request is not out of revenge or retribution. This is in the hope that he can address the substance abuse and emotional issues that have plagued him.”
“Mr. Eaton has a long standing history with our police department in a negative way,” Bruner wrote to the court.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Neah Bay Office of Public Safety.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ye-Ting Woo.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
