GRESHAM, Ore. (AP) - A suburban Portland teen was sentenced to 18 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to charges of manslaughter for killing a man in a botched drug deal robbery, prosecutors said Friday.
Jacob Cadle, 19, pleaded guilty to manslaughter, robbery with a firearm and attempted assault for the death of 23-year-old Joshua Cermack and the wounding of Christian Stai, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.
On Dec. 31 2019, investigators found Cermack dead and Stai seriously hurt in a parked pickup truck in Gresham. Both were shot multiple times, according to police.
Authorities arrested Cadle and Zion Evans about a week later. Police said the pair had met Cermack and Stai with a plan to rob them of marijuana after arranging a deal on social media.
During a police interview, Evans said he and Cadle intended to rip off Stai and came to the drug deal armed, according to prosecutors.
Evans told police he pulled out a handgun and pointed it at Stai while he and Cermack were in the truck, a probable cause affidavit alleges. Evans said he started shooting after he saw Cermack reach for something in his sweatshirt, though he never saw the man draw a weapon, according to court records. Prosecutors said Evans and Cadle fired into the truck.
Evans’ case is awaiting trial, which is tentatively planned for July.
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