Yakima Man Gets 10 Years for Rifle Assault

YAKIMA, WA – James Skahan-Lowe, 30, of the Yakama Nation, will spend the next decade in federal prison after being sentenced for a brazen daylight assault involving a firearm. U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref announced today that Skahan-Lowe received a 10-year sentence, followed by 5 years of court supervision, after pleading guilty to Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence on November 1, 2022.

The February 26, 2022, incident unfolded when Skahan-Lowe, mistaking a man for someone else, confronted the victim who had pulled over on the side of the road to answer his cell phone. According to court documents, Skahan-Lowe parked behind the victim and immediately launched into an argument. When verbal attempts to de-escalate failed, Skahan-Lowe retrieved a rifle from his vehicle and leveled it at the man, demanding he hit the ground. When the victim refused and tried to flee, Skahan-Lowe gave chase and began beating him with the weapon.

The brutality didn’t end there. After the initial assault, Skahan-Lowe briefly left the scene, only to return moments later while an unknown individual stole the victim’s car. Law enforcement arrived to find the victim injured and provided immediate medical attention. The stolen vehicle was later recovered. What’s particularly damning? Skahan-Lowe was already on pretrial release in a separate state case involving a vicious assault that left another victim with a fractured skull – inflicted with a mallet.

During the February 2, 2023, sentencing hearing, the victim bravely detailed the lasting impact of Skahan-Lowe’s actions on his life and family. Skahan-Lowe offered an apology, claiming he was “filled with rage” at the time, but Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian wasn’t swayed. “I hope that Mr. Skahan-Lowe is sincerely sorry for his actions,” Judge Bastian stated before imposing the 120-month sentence, emphasizing his duty to protect the community.

U.S. Attorney Waldref praised the victim’s courage and underscored her office’s commitment to tackling violence on the Yakama Nation. “I commend the courage and bravery of the victim to come forward and speak about this horrific crime,” she said. “The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who perpetrate violence within the boundaries of the Yakama Nation.” Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office, echoed this sentiment, calling the crime “senseless” and reaffirming the FBI’s dedication to reducing violent crime in the region.

Court records reveal a disturbing pattern of criminal behavior. Skahan-Lowe’s rap sheet includes convictions dating back to 2010 for Residential Burglary and Vehicle Prowling. Further convictions followed in 2011 (Unlawful Possession of a Firearm), 2014 (First-Degree Possession of Stolen Property and Second-Degree Burglary), 2016 (Possession of a Stolen Vehicle), and 2017 (Second-Degree Burglary). This latest sentence appears to be a desperate attempt to finally curb a dangerous cycle of violence. The question remains: will it be enough?

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