‘Unforgivable:’ Judge sentences Nampa man to prison for severe beating
A 20-year-old Nampa man will spend at least the next three years in prison after prosecutors said he beat another man “within an inch of his life.”
Fourth District Judge Annie McDevitt — who called the incident “unforgivable” — sentenced Christopher Smith to 15 years in prison Monday. He could be eligible for parole after three years, though McDevitt noted that it was dependent on his behavior while he’s incarcerated.
Smith also is expected to pay over $66,000 in restitution.
In February, Ada County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a popular outdoor party spot in Kuna after a fight broke out at a bonfire, the Idaho Statesman previously reported. Law enforcement initially said that the incident occurred after a then-25-year-old man got into “some kind of altercation with a woman,” causing a group of men — including Smith — to attack the man.
But the prosecution and defense weren’t certain exactly what transpired between the victim and the woman. Ada County Deputy Prosecutor Delaney Grace Peugh said at Smith’s sentencing that “at best” his attack was “excessive retaliation” and more than likely was an “unprovoked attack.”
“The defendant beat (the victim) within an inch of his life and then essentially left him for dead,” Peugh said in court Monday.
Smith, who earlier pleaded guilty to felony aggravated battery, admitted to hitting the other man over the head with a tequila bottle and repeatedly kicking him, Peugh said.
Smith then kicked the unconscious man up to 30 times.
Up to three other men were involved in the altercation, and the Sheriff’s Office said in February that it was “actively looking” for them. In a Wednesday email to the Statesman, the Sheriff’s Office confirmed that because of a “lack of leads,” Smith was the only person arrested in connection to the case, spokesperson Deputy Lauren Montague said.
She asked anyone with additional information regarding the case to call the Sheriff’s Office non-emergency dispatch at 208-377-6790, or email lmontague@adacounty.id.gov.
Victim had several surgeries following attack
The victim said he still doesn’t understand what provoked the attack and is still dealing with the aftermath, including ongoing PTSD. The man said in court that he suffered a punctured skull and brain bleed.
He has undergone several surgeries, and received 19 staples to the back of his head and four stitches in his eye to help reconstruct his orbital bone, he said.
“Christopher has put my family through so much pain through this whole process,” the man said. He added that he’s racked up over $100,000 in medical bills.
While the prosecution argued that Smith wasn’t remorseful for his actions, his defense attorney, Brian Marx, disagreed, saying his client regretted the attack.
Marx pointed to Smith’s traumatic childhood and issues with alcohol abuse as reasons why his client should receive a lighter prison sentence. The prosecution asked the judge to sentence Smith to a minimum of 10 years in prison without parole, while the defense requested probation or another option that would allow Smith to work, especially considering the significant restitution he’ll have to pay.
Marx added that at a minimum, the victim did have some kind of “physical contact” with a woman who was known to Smith.
But Marx acknowledged that his client “took it to a point that was too far.”
Smith, when offered a chance to speak, apologized to the victim and told the court about his struggles with alcoholism, which he said contributed to his behavior that night.
“It hurts me to know that I did that to somebody,” Smith said. “I hope one day he can forgive me for what happened.”
This story was originally published October 22, 2024 at 3:39 PM.
