PORT ANGELES — A Sequim man who was charged with kidnapping in August has pleaded guilty to a lesser count.
Christopher Charles Cooper, 27, pleaded guilty last week to unlawful imprisonment, second-degree taking a motor vehicle without permission and misdemeanor assault.
He will be sentenced at 9 a.m. Tuesday in Clallam County Superior Court.
Copper was originally charged with first-degree kidnapping and second-degree robbery for an Aug. 8 incident in Sequim.
Sequim police said Cooper forced a Sequim man to accompany him to a Spruce Road residence and threatened to kill him if he didn’t comply.
Police said Cooper took the man’s cellphone as they traveled and punched the alleged victim in the mouth after a third party confirmed that the he had been “talking s—” about Cooper, according to the affidavit for probable cause.
Cooper drove the alleged victim’s vehicle during the commission of the crime, police said.
Cooper pleaded guilty to the amended charges Thursday.
“I believe that he is entering this plea knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently, that he understands the consequences of the plea and that there is a factual basis for the plea,” Clallam County Superior Court Judge Brian Coughenour said.
“The court finds him guilty as charged.”
As part of the plea negotiations, the Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office recommended a 60-day jail sentence for Cooper with credit for time served.
Cooper was released from the jail on his personal recognizance Thursday. He was ordered to have no contact with the victim.
Meanwhile, Jerez Darren McGrew, who accompanied Cooper during the incident, pleaded guilty Oct. 5 to harassment-threats to kill and misdemeanor assault.
The 31-year-old was originally charged with being an accomplice to first-degree kidnapping.
McGrew was sentenced to 70 days in jail with credit for time served and 10 days converted to community service work, court papers said.
He, too, was ordered to have no contact with the victim.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at [email protected] dailynews.com.
