BB gun spree nets 13 months for vandal.

Byline: Bill Bishop The Register-Guard

Standing in court Wednesday, facing a few of the dozens of people whose car windows he shot out with a BB gun last month, Jason David Satterlee apologized, raised his handcuffed wrists and said, "I am paying for it."

It was little consolation to Justine Horner-Sutton, a single working mother of three who doesn't have $260 to fix her car window.

"It's cold. I'm sick. Two of my kids are sick. It's been a real pain," she told Lane County Circuit Judge Lauren Holland.

Three other victims also told the judge about the trouble Satterlee's crime spree caused them and their families. All said the cost to repair damages - ranging up to $450 - is a major financial burden that will affect how they and their families enjoy the holidays.

The state's Crime Victims Compensation Fund has no authority and no money to help victims of property crimes, according to Sharon Gorham, director of the district attorney's victims services office. One of Satterlee's victims had to spend his monthly disability check to repair his truck, she noted.

"It's not just a simple crime. It's not just a juvenile prank. There is a human cost," Gorham said.

Satterlee and co-defendant Andrew Jay Thompson, both 18-year-old Springfield residents, are accused of shooting out windows in 59 cars the night of Nov. 19, Deputy Lane County District Attorney Dave Schwartz said. Thompson is awaiting trial.

One of the victims of the crime spree reported a license number to police, who traced it to Satterlee. He admitted the crimes and cooperated with police to identify the co-defendant, Schwartz said.

The total damage is currently estimated at $10,000, but Gorham said she expects the total to run to $13,000 or more. As part of the sentence, Holland ordered Satterlee to pay for the damages when he gets out of prison.

Satterlee pleaded guilty to four felony counts and one misdemeanor count of criminal mischief in a plea deal that will bring him 13 months in prison. The time will run in addition to 18 months he is serving for a previous conviction for conspiracy to commit robbery and other crimes. Ironically, Satterlee was to have appeared in court the morning of the crime spree to be sentenced in the robbery case under a plea deal that left him eligible for probation. After his arrest in the crime spree, prosecutors withdrew the deal and sought the prison term, Schwartz said.

Defense lawyer Laura Fine said Satterlee dropped out of school at the age of 15 and has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a dependent personality disorder and long-term depression. Fine said the incident began when Thompson asked Satterlee to go driving around. She said Thompson did the majority of the damage.

Nevertheless, Satterlee offers no excuses for his conduct and can't explain why he participated in the crime, Fine told the judge. She said a therapist believes the crime spree further confirms Satterlee's psychological problems.

In a statement before sentencing, Satterlee turned to face victims in the courtroom and said, "I can't begin to believe the pain that I've put you and your families through. I am paying for it. I hope by the time I'm done that you guys will be feeling better as a whole. I'm sorry for the hole I've put your families into."

Holland reminded Satterlee that the victims are hard-working people whose cars play an important role in their daily efforts to support families. She told Satterlee that many people with more difficult personal backgrounds than his are nevertheless law-abiding adults.

"You don't have the luxury to act without thinking. No adult does," Holland told Satterlee.

She ordered him to write letters of apology to each victim after his release from prison, but to have no other contact with any of them.