Related pages

Morrison: 'I'm ashamed...really sorry...
I ask for your forgiveness

Eye-gouging victim: Jail attacker the maximum time

Morrison sentenced to 5-year-prison term

Morrison pleads guilty

Jacob Morrison, 22, pleaded guilty in San Juan County Superior Court yesterday to three counts of assault and one count of reckless driving. The charges stemmed from a May 21, 2000 fight in which a Tacoma man lost his eye.

Originally Morrison was charged with first-degree assault which carried a potential life sentence. The charges were amended to second-degree, third-degree and fourth-degree assault and one count of reckless driving. Sentencing is set for 9 a.m. Jan. 23.

Count I: Assault in the second degree.
In his guilty plea Morrision wrote:

On May 21, 2000, I intentionally used force in an attempt to defend myself during a fight with Thomas Keely that occurred in San Juan County. However, I used more force than was necessary or lawfully permitted, and I recklessly inflicted substantial bodily harm upon Thomas Keely by rupturing his eye.

Second-degree assault, a Class B felony, carries a maximum of 10 years confinement in state prison and/or a $20,000 fine. The standard range is six to 12 months. San Juan County Prosecutor Randy Gaylord is recommending five years in prison because of the exceptional circumstances. Two years of community placement is also recommended by the prosecutor.

Count II: Assault in the third-degree.
In his guilty plea Morrision wrote:

On May 21, 2000, I failed to be aware of a substantial risk that a wrongful act might occur when I became involved in a fight with Norbert Spielmann in San Juan County. My failure to be aware of such substantial risk was a gross deviation from the standard of care a reasonable man would exercise in the same situation. My criminal negligence caused bodily injury to Norbert Spielmann when my finger injured his eye during the fight. A finger is a thing that is likely to cause bodily harm.

Third-degree assault, a Class C felony, carries a maximum of five years confinement in state prison and/or a $10,000 fine. The standard range of actual confinement is three to eight months. The prosecutor is recommending 12 months plus one day in prison and 12 months in community placement due to the exceptional circumstances.

Count III: Assault in the fourth-degree.
In his guilty plea Morrision wrote:

On May 21, 2000, I intentionally assaulted Steven Ryan by grabbing him in San Juan County.

Fourth-degree assault is a gross misdemeanor and is punishable by up to one year in county jail and/or a $5,000 fine. The prosecutor is recommending 60 days in jail.

Count IV: Reckless driving.
In his guilty plea Morrision wrote:

On May 21, 2000, I drove a vehicle in San Juan County in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.

Reckless driving, a gross misdemeanor, is punishable by up to one year in county jail and/or a $5,000 fine. The prosecutor is recommending 30 days in jail and for Morrison's drivers license to be suspended or revoked for 30 days.

Don Eaton presided over the proceedings. He accepted Morrison's guilty pleas on the assault charges. Acceptance of the guilty plea on the reckless driving charge is being withheld until the sentencing hearing set for Jan. 23, 2001. Restitution amounts are still to be determined.

Morrison enters innocent plea

posted 05/31/00

Jake Morrison, a 21-year-old San Juan Island man, charged with first- and fourth-degree assault, yesterday, May 30, entered an innocent plea in San Juan County Superior Court. County prosecutors are accusing Morrison of gouging the eye of a Tacoma man at Roche Harbor during a May 20 altercation..

Judge Alan R. Hancock set trial for Aug. 22. He denied Morrison’s request for a reduction of his $25,000 bail to $5,000. A request for contact with two people was denied, another request for work-related contact with two others was granted.

Hancock will allow Morrison to travel to Whatcom County. Morrison’s attorney, public defender Craig Platt, sought the permission to travel so Morrison could attend a religious gathering.

Hancock previously barred Morrison from having contact with 20 people, including victims Tom Keely, who permanently lost sight in one eye after the May 20 fight, and Norbert Spielman. The first-degree assault charge is for the attack on Keely, the fourth-degree assault is for the attack on Spielman.

Morrison’s arraignment was held in the vault room in the county Courthouse. It drew a crowd that spilled into the hallway.

Tacoma man loses eye after attack

A San Juan Island man allegedly gouged out a Tacoma man’s eyeball during a fight late Saturday night at Roche Harbor Resort. Jacob Morrison, 21, of San Juan Island will be arraigned at 10:30 a.m. May 30 on one count of first-degree assault and one count of 4th degree assault according to the county prosecutor's office.

Morrison, who deputies later determined was intoxicated, apparently sped past a group of visitors as they walked to the Mausoleum at Roche Harbor and came close to them with his vehicle, San Juan County Undersheriff Jon Zerby said. The pedestrians yelled at Morrison, who according to the walkers, made several more passes at the walkers, forcing them to take evasive action. Words were exchanged again.

The group switched to another path to avoid the car. Morrison told deputies he drove around looking for them.

Morrison's car approached the group again. One of the walkers told deputies he grabbed Morrison's shirt to attempt to get him out of the car so he wouldn't run them off the road again. A carload of Morrison's friends arrived, and the walker let go of Morrison's shirt.

According to the Tacoma group, Morrison and his friends got out of their vehicles. A fight ensued and the 47-year-old Tacoma man, Thomas L. Keely, had one of his eyes gouged out allegedly by Morrison.

Keely, a former Weyerhauser photographer, was medevaced to Harborview Medical Center. According to medical staff at the center, the eye was so badly damaged it had to be removed.

Morrison was arrested and booked on suspicion of vehicular assault and first-degree assault. He was held on $25,000 bail as of Monday, May 22.

Trial rescheduled for January

Morrison trial set for October

posted 07/20/00
Jake Morrison's trial on charges of first and second-degree assault charges has been rescheduled for 9 a.m. October 24 in San Juan County Superior Court. An Omnibus hearing will be held at 10:30 a.m. August 14; a pretrial/readiness hearing is slated for 10:30 a.m. October 9.

San Juan Islander staff

by mail: San Juan Islander
PO Box 1118
Friday Harbor, WA 98250 USA

about us