Local man gets 22 years after night of terror

A Nespelem man — who kidnapped three minor children at gunpoint in June of 2020, robbed and sexually assaulted another, stole a truck, committed arson, and led police on a high-speed chase — was sentenced last week to 22 years in federal prison in a case that authorities hailed as the result of great collaboration among several law enforcement agencies and the courage of his young victims.

John Edward McGinnis, 35, of Nespelem, was sentenced Aug. 9 by United States Senior District Judge Rosanna Malouf Peterson to 264 months, followed by a five-year term of supervised release.

“My heart goes out to the victims,” Peterson said, emphasizing that “the offense was really terrible” for everyone involved.

Of the total sentence, 24 months were for violating the terms of his release from federal prison after prior convictions for second-degree burglary and assault with a dangerous weapon.

The court documents lay out a horrific story that started the evening of June 1, 2020, on the Colville Indian Reservation and ended the next morning on Spokane’s South Hill, according to Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.

“McGinnis held his victims at gunpoint and even fired several gunshots in the immediate area of these victims,” who were 9, 13 and 17 at the time, a statement from Waldref said, then forced them into a truck and to drive to his own trailer, which he then burned to the ground.

The three children escaped somehow, but McGinnis found another victim in Grand Coulee, “robbing her at gunpoint and forcing her into the stolen truck,” Waldref said. “After he kidnapped this victim, McGinnis sexually assaulted her and threatened to kill her if she tried to escape.”

But she did escape, at a gas station in Spokane, “by causing McGinnis to believe she was going inside to pay for gas,” the statement continues. She told the attendant to call 911, then hid in a locked bathroom.

A short time later, Spokane Police saw the stolen truck near Second Avenue in Spokane and tried to stop it. McGinnis took off at high-speed until he tried to take the truck off road and high centered it near Liberty Park, where he was taken into custody. Inside the truck, police recovered a .22 caliber revolver, which McGinnis was not able to lawfully possess because of the prior convictions.

“The emotional trauma to each of these victims is real and will continue far longer than the 22-year sentence imposed today.” Waldref said. “Today’s significant sentence is necessary to prevent Mr. McGinnis from harming others, including young children, but that is not all. By prosecuting cases such as this one, our office reaffirms its commitment to prioritizing and vigorously pursuing those who commit violent crimes on the Colville Indian Reservation, especially when the victims include some of the most vulnerable and innocent members of our community.”

Officials from the many law enforcement agencies involved characterized the case as a “showcase” of collaborating for the safety of multiple communities.

“It takes a great deal of courage for victims to come forward and confront the person who hurt them,” stated Assistant United States Attorney Richard R. Barker, who led the federal prosecution of McGinnis.

The case was investigated by the Spokane Resident Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Colville Tribal Police Department, the Grand Coulee Police Department, and the Spokane Police Department.

The sentence handed down last week was for the crimes of Assault with Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country, Arson in Indian Country, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, and Discharging and Using a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.

McGinnis also was ordered to pay $9,919.03 in restitution.

He had entered a guilty plea on May 21, 2021.