The sheer cruelty shown by Jacob Eveland when he stabbed and shot Roy N. Jones to death May 31, 2016, allowed County Prosecutor Katie Svoboda to ask Superior Court Judge David Edwards for an exceptional sentence. She did that Monday morning and Edwards complied.
“When I listened to the testimony in this case I was shocked at the cruelty,” Edwards told Eveland at his sentencing hearing. “I don’t know I’ve ever heard evidence that has affected me like this. You committed a brutal, brutal murder.”
Svoboda asked for a 50-year sentence, well above the usual range of 261-347 months – from just under 22 years to just less than 30. Enhancements, including five years for using a firearm and two years for using a deadly weapon, automatically added seven years to his sentence.
“The court was able to go above the standard range because the jury found that the crime was aggravated due to the defendant’s deliberate cruelty,” said Svoboda after the hearing. “So the court imposed 600 months on Murder 1. An additional 41 months was imposed on the arson, but it runs concurrently to the Murder 1 so it doesn’t change the (50 years).”
Eveland showed very little reaction when Edwards announced the verdict.
“It’s probably effectively a life sentence for you given your age, and I believe that’s appropriate,” said Edwards. “I don’t believe you could ever be put out into the community again.”
Svoboda said he will serve most, if not all, of those 50 years.
“There is very little ‘good time’ on a Murder 1, so he will serve the majority of the 50 years; my estimate would be 45-plus years,” she said. “He is 38 now, so he will be 80 or older before he is eligible for release.”
Eveland stabbed and shot Jones at Eveland’s home in Elma, lighting the residence on fire before fleeing. Responders found Jones, then 45, dead in the yard. A warrant was issued for Eveland’s arrest, and he was found and arrested by Seattle Police officers June 7, 2016.
The day of the murder, Eveland had just been released from jail on an unrelated domestic violence charge. Jones had been watching the property while Eveland was in the county jail.
Through her pastor, Gunnar Ahlquist, the victim’s grandmother, Mary Jones, provided a statement.
“My grandson was in a good mood when I dropped him off at the house he was taking care of for Jacob Eveland,” the pastor read. “Then I turn on the television the next morning and saw the house on fire, hearing they had found a body.”
Her statement continued, “Going to the funeral home with Roy’s mother and stepfather was a nightmare. We were told we couldn’t view my grandson’s body because he wasn’t presentable.” She said she has to force herself to eat and can’t sleep without pills.
“I have lost interest in knitting and darning. It is hard to concentrate.” She concluded, “I’ve struggled to forgive you, but I will definitely find peace when I do forgive you. But I will never forget.”
Jones’ mother was barely audible as she spoke to Edwards prior to sentencing.
“I believe he took my son’s life and cruelly destroyed a lot of people. It left part of me dead.” She urged Edwards to make sure Eveland spends the rest of his life behind bars.
When asked if he cared to make a statement, Eveland said simply, “No.” He started serving his sentence immediately.
