Carjacking suspect faces 5 felonies
Published 11:33 pm Monday, July 30, 2007
An ex-felon who allegedly stole two vehicles at gunpoint and led police on a lengthy chase July 20 could face decades in prison if he’s convicted of the five felony counts filed Monday in Everett District Court.
Stewart Allan Compher, 31, of Everett faces two counts of first-degree robbery, attempted first-degree robbery, second-degree assault and attempting to elude police.
Four of the counts carry allegations that they were committed with a firearm. That alone would add 16 years to any prison sentence Compher could receive if convicted as charged, deputy prosecutor John Adcock said.
Adcock has until Aug. 17 to move the case to Snohomish County Superior Court where felonies are handled.
Compher’s bail is set at $500,000.
Earlier, Adcock filed charges against Compher’s alleged accomplice. Eric M. Johnson II, 24, of Seattle is charged with one count each of first-degree robbery and attempting to elude police. Johnson is being held on $250,000 bail.
The spree started with a car prowl in Lake Stevens and a high-speed pursuit to the U.S. 2 trestle. That’s where the men’s truck stalled and a woman’s car was taken at gunpoint, according to court documents.
The chase stretched from the trestle to Mill Creek, causing numerous accidents during rush-hour traffic on a Friday.
Shoppers at the Everett Mall panicked when two armed men ran through, pursued by police.
Johnson was arrested at the mall. Compher allegedly fled the mall, stole a pickup and raced to the Fred Meyer store on 132nd Street SE, where officers shot him as he tried to flee through a rear loading dock.
He received several gunshot wounds and was treated for several days at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Compher, who has five previous felony convictions including burglary, reportedly told police he ran because he was scared, court documents said.
Johnson reportedly said he originally fled because he didn’t want to get caught driving with a suspended license, a misdemeanor.
