Peter Christian Twigg severely injured and nearly killed a friend Nov. 2, and for that he will spend 12 years in prison.
Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Eric Lucas on Tuesday sentenced Twigg, 29, of Gold Bar to the term despite pleas for a much lower sentence.
A jury earlier this month convicted Twigg of first-degree assault in the baseball bat beating of Jim Sereyka, 63, of Gold Bar. The fight happened after Twigg came to Sereyka’s residence to propose to a woman.
Deputy prosecutor Ed Stansell argued that Twigg knew that his proposal would anger Sereyka and provoke a confrontation. Twigg then went to his car, retrieved an aluminum baseball bat and returned. He struck Sereyka in the face, rendering him unconscious. Then Twigg delivered a second blow to the head.
Sereyka told Lucas the injuries left him permanently blind in one eye and also caused loss of hearing, depth perception, an inability to concentrate and depression. His medical bills will top $250,000, he said.
Besides prison time, Twigg will be required to make restitution for Sereyka’s medical bills after his release.
Public defender Kathleen Kyle argued that the situation was charged with emotion and that Twigg didn’t mean to inflict the injuries. She said this case is distinguishable from other coldblooded assaults, and argued that Twigg deserved a sentence of less than nine years in prison, which is below the standard sentencing rage.
Stemler argued for the high end of the range, and Lucas agreed.
Because Twigg left the confrontation and returned with a baseball bat, the judge concluded that the attack was thought out. Sereyka’s injuries are permanent and amount to a life sentence for him, the judge said.
“I see this as a tragedy of major proportion for the victim, you and your families,” Lucas told Twigg.
Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or haley@heraldnet.com.
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