Judge gives violent offender another chance

It was a good day for serial offender Robert Sunchild Friday afternoon in state District Court. Sunchild, who is serving a five-year sentence for drunkenly assaulting his girlfriend, has the opportunity to avoid prison altogether.

Sunchild has been in the Hill County Detention Center for the last 45 days after he violated parole Dec. 1 by getting drunk and beating up his wheelchair-ridden father. That incident reinstated a suspended sentence, the result of the assault on his girlfriend.

Sunchild admitted Jan. 15 that he violated parole, got drunk and beat up his father. Friday’s sentencing hearing was about the consequences of that assault.

Probation and Parole Officer Katie Kuhr testified, recommending that Sunchild receive a sentence of five years in the Department of Corrections for the assault on his father.

Kuhr said that Sunchild’s past includes multiple minor in possession charges, an assault on a peace officer charge, pending aggravated assault charges in New Mexico, where he once lived, and the most recent partner or family member assault incidents on his girlfriend and dad.

“He has an issue with violence and substance abuse,” Kuhr said.

During the last 45 days, Sunchild filled out an application to go through a boot camp program, the Treasure State Correctional Training Center. The program takes all kinds of offenders and emphasizes personal responsibility, discipline, healthy living and becoming physically fit. The length of the boot camp is 90 to 120 days and though it’s a better alternative to prison, it’s “no walk in the park,” as state District Court Judge Daniel Boucher said Friday.

Sunchild’s public defender, Randy Randolph, asked Kuhr if she believed boot camp would benefit Sunchild. She said she did. Randolph then asked Kuhr if she thought Sunchild was ready for boot camp. Kuhr said she wasn’t sure because Sunchild had said he was ready to change before, particularly before he assaulted his wheelchair-ridden father.

Kuhr said that should Sunchild complete the boot camp program, the possibility of having the remainder of his sentence suspended would be very probable.

Randolph told the court that, while his client may seem “kinda rough” and “looks bad on paper,” he’s polite and respectful, adding that he would be a good candidate for the program.

“He would do well in boot camp,” Randolph said.

Boucher asked Sunchild if he had anything to say. Sunchild stood up and told the court he was tired of living “this way.”

“It has gotten me nowhere,” he added.

Boucher told the court that he had gotten to know Sunchild over time and said, “Other than when he drinks, he’s not difficult to deal with.”

Boucher discussed with Hill County Deputy attorney Ryan Mickelson and Randolph, a way to give Sunchild an incentive to complete boot camp and, ultimately, earn a way out of prison time.

The court gave Sunchild seven years, two of them suspended, and the remaining five to be served at the same time as the sentence he’s already serving.

If Sunchild successfully completes the boot camp program and the following pre-release program, this assault case can be revisited, and possibly suspended, Boucher said.

If so, Robert Sunchild can be out in a year, Randolph said after the hearing.

"We’re going to find out if you can do this or not. I know you can," were Boucher’s last words to Sunchild.