Josh Grimes could face five-year minimum sentence

A former Oregon State University student pleaded guilty Monday to charges of shooting a man in the alley behind his fraternity in October.

Josh Grimes, 20, went before Benton County Circuit Court Judge David Connell to plead guilty to unlawful use of a weapon against another and third-degree assault. Both are felonies.

In a brief hearing, Grimes answered “Guilty” when asked for his pleas on two of the four counts against him. The two other charges, second-degree assault and unlawful discharge of a weapon, were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

The agreement leaves the imposition of the sentence up to a judge. Both charges would make Grimes subject to a five-year minimum sentence for using a gun in the commission of a crime. According to a memo that was filed with the court stating the terms of the agreement between Grimes’ attorney and Benton County District Attorney John Haroldson, the state likely will recommend the five-year mandatory gun minimum, while the defense will recommend probation under an exception for first-time offenders.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 16 at 10 a.m.

Dennis Sanderson, of Corvallis, was looking through a garbage bin behind Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity late in the afternoon of Oct. 14, when he was shot in the leg. Doctors removed the bullet from Sanderson’s leg, and it was identified as having been fired from a .22-caliber weapon. After an investigation that lasted several weeks, police determined the shot had likely been fired from Alpha Gamma Rho. When police searched the fraternity and cars owned by its members on Nov. 9, another fraternity member came forward with the weapon. According to the police reports, Grimes, in an emotional outburst, confessed to the shooting when confronted and was arrested.

Grimes declined to comment after Monday’s hearing.