A Stayton man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to attempted murder for shooting a Salem teen during a dispute at a Salem park in 2024.
William Jonah Wilson, 20, pleaded guilty June 3 in Marion County Circuit Court to attempted second-degree murder and first-degree assault with a firearm.
He was sentenced to 12 years in prison, of which he must serve at least 7.5 years. The remaining 4.5 years could potentially be reduced through early release programs.
Once released, Wilson would be on post-prison supervision for three years.
Wilson was arrested Aug. 6, 2024, for an incident the night of June 29, 2024, in Downtown Salem at Pringle Plaza Parkade.
According to court records, the victim was skateboarding at the park when he was approached by a group of individuals. An altercation ensued and, after the victim got in his car and attempted to drive away, he was shot in the neck.
The victim crashed his vehicle down the block from the park on Mill St. and was laying on the sidewalk when he was found by first responders. He was hospitalized with serious injuries.
The individuals involved had dispersed when police arrived and, through investigation, Wilson was identified as the shooter. He was taken into custody without incident Aug. 6, 2024, at his home in Stayton.
Wilson was held without bail in the Marion County Jail and while in custody investigators learned he was also implicated in an armed robbery occurring July 28, 2024. According to changes filed April 29, Wilson robbed a man and woman at gunpoint and physically forced the woman to surrender her property.
As part of the same plea agreement June 3, Wilson pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery
was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison, to be served alongside his other sentence.
