An Albany man was sentenced to 30 days in prison after pleading no contest Wednesday, April 27, at Linn County Circuit Court to third-degree assault for his participation in a February attack on a 13-year-old boy in Sweet Home.
Dakota Alan Ray House, 19, received 36 months of probation and was fined $200, plus $134.50 restitution to the youth’s mother, Katie Doner, and $880.73 to her insurance company for costs associated with his medical care. Charges of riot, reckless endangerment and second-degree disorderly conduct were dismissed.
Sweet Home Junior High School student Gavin Doner was jumped and beaten Feb. 9 by a group of older teens near the Sweet Home High School parking lot. He was treated for his injuries at an area hospital.
In addition to House, police arrested 21-year-old Custin Jones, Jr., of Albany, plus four unnamed juveniles: a 15-year-old Sweet Home girl and a 14-year-old boy, 15-year-old girl and 16-year-old boy, all from Albany.
Jones entered his own no-contest plea to third-degree assault Monday, April 11, at Linn County Circuit Court. He received the same sentence and fines, with the same charges dismissed.
“I’m not very happy with their sentences, but apparently there’s nothing we can do about that,” Katie Doner said.
Although she wasn’t certain what would constitute a satisfactory outcome, she said she would have liked to have seen the defendants charged with the theft of her son’s backpack as well as the destruction of his phone and Chromebook, but restitution fees, which both were required to pay, were added to the sentence in place of a charge.
“[The lawyers] said we’re getting a good deal with just the assault,” she said.