Kenneth E. Gill, age 32, of Vancouver, Washington pleaded guilty to Assault in the Second Degree-Substantial Bodily Harm on Wednesday, Dec. 20.

According to court records, Mr. Gill assaulted a fellow prisoner on June 24, 2016 at the Clallam Bay Correctional Center. On that day a corrections officer was conducting standard checks and found Mr. Gill on top of his cellmate who was lying face up in his bunk. Mr. Gill was witnessed repeatedly punching his cellmate in the face.

The cellmate incurred substantial damage to the face and eye which required that he be transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he later received reconstructive surgery of his orbital bones.

Based on Mr. Gill’s criminal history, which consisted of 18 prior criminal convictions including felony convictions for Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Rendering Criminal Assistance in the First Degree, Assault in the Second Degree-Substantial Bodily Harm, Taking a Motor Vehicle without Permission in the Second Degree, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Attempting to Elude a Police Vehicle, he faced a standard range sentence of 43-57 months in prison under Washington State law.

The Honorable Superior Court Judge Brian Coughenour sentenced Gill to 43 months prison. In addition to his prison term, Gill will be required to not have contact with the victim, be under community supervision for 18 months, and pay $800 in legal financial obligations as well as pay restitution if requested.

“Under Washington law, only the most serious violent felony or sex offenses are considered ‘strike’ offenses. This case constituted Mr. Gill’s second ‘strike’ offense meaning that if he is convicted in the future of another ‘strike’ offense he will face a mandatory life sentence” said Deputy Prosecutor James Kennedy.