Pasco man facing a ’3rd strike’ narrowly avoids life sentence for trying to stab officer

When a 43-year-old man threatened to stab a Pasco police officer, he could have faced a life sentence.

Instead, Isaac Madaffer of Pasco will serve 10 years in prison with the hope that he can change his behavior, said Deputy Prosecutor Maureen Astley.

Madaffer had two previous “strikes” under state law, and could have faced a third strike after he threatened to stab Pasco Police Officer Kierra Peoples in February outside of Lourdes Medical Center, according to court documents.

“I’ve worked here for a long time,” Astley warned. “I have a good memory, and if he comes back for another strike offense, I will remember.”

Pasco police officials would have preferred to see Madaffer get a life sentence, and are afraid that he will not change.

This is not the first time Peoples has been the target of a man with a knife. She was one of two officers injured when Alejandro Betancourt-Mendoza attacked her and Officer Ben Boykin in a Pasco home in 2019.

While he didn’t get life in prison, Madaffer will serve nearly twice what he normally could have after pleading guilty to third-degree assault with a deadly weapon and harassment.

Madaffer’s attorney, Peyman Younesi, suggested his client suffered from mental health issues and may have suicidal thoughts.

A state psychologist found Madaffer has antisocial personality disorder and addictions to amphetamine, alcohol, and cannabis.

Madaffer also told psychologists he has spent time at several hospitals because his brain was “messed up because of the drugs and the life (he) leads,” according to a mental health evaluation.

“We live in a world where that (suicide) is more commonplace,” he said. “I’m grateful that this county appreciates that.”

Madaffer had an epiphany after being put in jail to face these charges, and wants to make changes to avoid the issue, Younesi said.

Judge Joe Burrowes told the man he was getting a break here, and there was nothing in court documents to show that he had a mental health issue.

“I hope that you turn your life around,” the judge said. “I will tell you, you really could have been in prison for life. ... You’re lucky to be alive.”

Three Strikes

Washington’s persistent offender law, more commonly known as the “three strikes” law is used for offenders convicted of three violent crimes, including first- and second-degree assault and first- and second-degree rape.

It’s a relatively rare sentence in Washington State. Only about 2% of the 12,000 inmates in state prisons are serving life sentences under the law.

In Madaffer’s case, he had his first strike in 2004 when he was convicted in Spokane for first-degree robbery. His second came about 13 years later when he was convicted for second-degree assault.

He also had five other convictions that include third-degree assault, harassment and first-degree theft.

Astley said he could have been charged with second-degree assault for threatening the Pasco police officer with a knife. If he was convicted, it would have been his third strike.

“Based on the facts in this case — especially the use of a deadly weapon — and his criminal history, the defendant has established himself as a dangerous individual,” Astley wrote.

His convictions for third-degree assault and felony harassment do not count as strikes. In exchange, prosecutors asked for a higher than normal sentence. They asked for him to serve five years on each count, for a total of 10 years.

Burrowes agreed to the sentence.

Confrontation

On Feb. 24, Madaffer was standing outside of Lourdes Medical Center at 520 Fourth Ave in Pasco, drinking a beer, holding a knife and yelling at himself.

“He had previously gone in and out of the ER lobby, but ended up staying staying outside when asked to be outside,” Peoples wrote.

When she arrived, he was standing in front of the emergency room doors. He started yelling that he was going to kill the officer when she stepped out of her car, according to court documents.

He started to approach her with the knife in his hand, and she was worried that he would stab her, so she backed up.

He threw what appeared to be a blunt item at another officer, according to court documents. Then he approached three more times and said he was going to kill Peoples.

“He refused to drop the knife and he refused to follow commands. He knowingly threatened to kill me,” Peoples wrote.

It’s not clear in the court documents when or how Madaffer was arrested, but there was no report that he was hurt.

This story was originally published October 11, 2024 at 11:09 AM.