POST FALLS, Idaho – A Post Falls teen has been sentenced to prison for his involvement in a shooting that left one man injured.
According to a press release, Ashlan Taylor Hjelmstrom, 18, was convicted of Aggravated Battery and Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm at an Occupied Vehicle. These charges stem from an incident on April 5, when Hjelmstrom, then 17, and Devin Corles Spring fired multiple shots at a car driven by Spring’s then-girlfriend and another man.
According to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, Spring used his cell phone to track his girlfriend’s location and, with Hjelmstrom, located her car. Spring exited his car with a handgun and confronted the other man, who was trying to drive away. Spring shot at the car several times, and Hjelmstrom also fired multiple shots. One of the bullets struck the other man in the leg.
Police said they located both Hjelmstrom and Spring, along with the two handguns used in the shooting, which were found hidden in a bag at a home. A note in the bag, written by Hjelmstrom’s father, indicated permission for Hjelmstrom to carry the handgun. Hjelmstrom’s juvenile criminal history includes violent offenses, including an incident involving a BB gun.
At sentencing on Sept. 16, the Kootenai County Prosecutor’s Office recommended 15-year prison terms for both charges, with parole eligibility after eight years. However, a district judge sentenced Hjelmstrom to 10 years in prison for each charge, with parole eligibility after three years. Both charges carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
