Larry N. Bemrose waits in the jury box for a corrections officer to take him down to the Lewis County Jail following his sentencing.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – A 66-year-old Toledo resident who thought he was protecting his neighborhood when he pointed a shotgun at an 8-year-old boy and then the boy’s mother was sentenced yesterday for two felonies.
Larry N. Bemrose was arrested after the Nov. 7 incident in the area of North Fifth Street in the South Lewis County town and charged with two counts of first-degree assault.
The woman, Finola Erickson, told police she’d just left a relative’s house in the area of Middle Crest Road and when she came to the stop sign, a pickup truck pulled a U-turn in front of her and blocked her, according to charging documents. She said a man she’d never seen before got out, approached with a rifle and pointed it at her son who was sitting in the passenger seat, and then walked around her side of the car and pointed it at her, charging documents relate.
Erickson took off in her yellow Neon and parked near Toledo High School, where she turned off her headlights to hide from the man and called 911.
It was an unfortunate incident of mistaken identity, Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead told a judge yesterday.
Halstead, the defendant and the defendant’s lawyer were in Lewis County Superior Court after striking a plea deal.
Prosecutors reduced the charged to two counts of second-degree assault, to which Bemrose pleaded guilty earlier this past spring.
“Unfortunately for him, it was a mother with her child in the vehicle,” Halstead said.
Centralia defense attorney Don Blair said his client was witness to what he thought was a burglary to a neighbor’s home and when he approached what he thought was the suspect vehicle, they “threw it in reverse” so he went and retrieved his gun.
“Unfortunately for the woman and her son, the vehicles looked similar,” Blair said.
According to charging documents, Bemrose admitted to police at the time to confronting a sport utility vehicle and a Lincoln, but denied contacting the yellow Neon.
Blair told Judge Richard Brosey that when Bemrose first learned it was a different party, he broke down and cried in Blair’s office, realizing what the woman and her child must have gone through.
The standard sentencing range for the offense is 12 to 14 months in prison. The two lawyers agreed to recommend Bemrose be sentenced to 12 months and one day.
Judge Brosey agreed, and gave Bemrose 11 days credit for time spent in the Lewis County Jail.
As Lewis County Superior Court judges customarily tell defendants when they are convicted of felonies, he explained to Bemrose he’d lost his right to possess firearms, and lost his right to vote.
When he is released, he will be under the supervision of the state Department of Corrections for 18 months.
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For background, read “Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup – FROM THE COURTHOUSE” from Monday November 10, 2014, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Lot of folks judging this man who honorably served his country in Vietnam. While he may have over-reached, his intentions and his heart were pure. He deserves justice and compassion!
When I got my shop broke into by this mex scum bag,he got to meet my mastiff , and the next 8 min of his worthless life was pay back .( I called her off after 8 ) then 2 hour of clean up ..he staggered off crying in Spanish lol..no cops needed!!! Love my dog!!!
I’m not sure which is worse: A guy who points a shotgun at a mother and an 8-year-old kid for committing the crime of leaving a relative’s house or the people defending his actions. How was this a “mistake?” Did he think think the kid was another 8-year-old burglar? SMH.
classic lewis county paranoia.
This impressive 66 year old was clearly very remorseful after he got carried away and made a mistake while out crime stopping. IMO in this case ninety (90) days would be more than enough jail time. The standard sentencing range for the offense is consistent with our current goals of housing >25% of the world’s prisoners, while having ~5% of the world’s population. We have to change this. Judges should have more sentencing discretion; and shouldn’t be forming round-tables with their buddies who are only there to make as much money as possible. Mr. Bemrose obviously has a lot to learn about gun safety, responsible gun ownership, and the laws of WA state. He should also be sentenced to gun training and or classes for these other things. He’s lucky he didn’t get himself killed, and nobody wants there to be a “next time.”
I’m sure all of the tweekers and criminals are happy to see this guy put away. Their job just got a little easier.
If it had been me I would have ran over him, and legally been justified to do so. Too many nutbags think a gun is the only final answer. It takes a year and 1 day to go to prison in Washington state. He will probably spend most of it in county lock up. He could of shot a relative coming to your home, ups, the cable guy or even the coolligan man. Nice to have neighbors but was he just paying too much attention or looking for trouble. Remember what house insurance is for? “Judge Brosey agreed, and gave Bemrose 11 days credit for time spent in the Lewis County Jail.” Did they make him say he was sorry to any of the people he harassed?
look at it this way. if the car stopped had a meth head with a stolen child and he stopped a crime he would be a hero . I think a police officer would have acted in a like manner. and if a person dosent think a citizen should get involved in what thay preceve to be a crime.i guess if it happens to you don’t scream for help unless you see a police officer.nobody got hurt and if someone wonted to blaime him for getting involved in what he preceved a crime and very well could have been! probation would have been more in line.if a killer started shooting people and a armed citizen just stud by would they be a hero ? if a armed citizen saw a person going into safway with a assault weapon under there coat should that person intervene or go call 911 and read about the outcome on lcs.again the guy just stopped a suspect he didn’t hurt anyone and he wasn’t afraid to act for another.this is a case that your dammed if you do and your dammed if you don’t.this is why people don’t get involved
The loss of right to vote only lasts in WA until he has completed his sentence and payment of any fines levied. He then can re-register to vote.
Trying to protect neighbors property ended when the suspects left. Getting in his vehicle to go after them crosses the line to vigilantism.
Another thing he learned it was the wrong people and broke down and cried in his lawyer’s office? really? When he had the 8 year old in his sights and then went around to the driver side to point his gun at the mom he didn’t have a slight inkling they were not burglars? He also lied to the police and never mentioned the yellow car with the little kid in it. Nope he knew what he had done and was trying to cover it up. Crying in his lawyer’s office was when he learned he was going to be charged.
One year in prison is a fair sentence as he has never been to prison and it is a serious consequence for a serious action.
I hope the mom and 8 year old are doing okay.
What makes me sick is the police sometimes raid the wrong home. Point guns at the wrong people and no charges are ever filed against them. Also the police can use computers and talk on cell phones while driving. Yet the sheeple are not allowed. The line in the sand is very clear here. Police kill more unarmed people than anyone else in America. Yes this was a mistake but this guy does not deserve a Felony
crazy old man, throw the book at him
Just in time for the theater shooting. Typical white guy with a gun propaganda. The gun war is really heating up. Dont use a gun unless your life is in danger people. Only cops can intimidate and shoot people with guns is our country. Better yet get a less lethal weapon that shoots glass balls at 32 joules its gaurenteed to be a show stopper. And less lethal guns give people a second chance at life if you happen to shoot them. Tiberius T 8.1 is a potent less lethal weapon and wont kill most of the time if its a body shot
I’ve owned a gun since I was 11 years old and I have never pointed one at anyone in this country. The only time that it’s legal is in legitimate self defense or possibly to prevent another person from being seriously harmed or killed.
It’s not legal to point a gun at someone, even on your property, if they are there to rob you. Lock your door and call 911. They possibly won’t catch them but we are only talking property, not life or death. If they break down your locked door then empty your gun on them.
Also I know from personal experience that you must learn to show the ultimate restraint when you are armed. It is very easy to misinterpret a situation as this man did. Something that you might think is a danger to you can be perfectly innocent.
And then you could always have a police officer roll up on you when you are running around with a firearm and you could end up dead.
I think the bottom line is that this guy has some anger issues. 12 months is a very fair sentence.
I say let him go! you may need him in this day and age
Connie what is really said is that there are people like you in this world who feel it is ok to confront people with a firearm in a situation like this. If there is a need for someone to have and use a firearm it is in defense of their own or someone elses life. This nut job, and probably you, thinks it’s ok to use deadly force in defense of property. Just doesn’t work that way. Bemrose is lucky to get a year and a day in prison. If he had blocked my vehicle and confronted me with a firearm he would be nothing but a memory right now.
I guess he was lucky it wasn’t me or some other citizen that carries and has a CPL…..
its sad really that this man has to do prison time when he was trying to protect the neighborhood. The thieving that runs rampant nowadays is only going to get worse when our economy crashes hard in the next few years and everything goes to Hell. Maybe if more citizens acted like Bemrose did, you could leave your kids bike out in your yard all night and know it will still be there in the morning…..