LEWISTON, ID – A 17-year-old boy who was found guilty of First-Degree Murder a year ago has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years. A year ago, a Nez Perce County jury found Demetri X. Ewing guilty of killing 31-year-old Sam Johns on January 8, 2021. Second District Court Judge Jay Gaskill also ordered him to pay a $5,000 fine.
Ewing and his father, Clyde Ewing, traveled by bicycle from Clarkston to Johns’ home in Lewiston reportedly to burglarize the residence. The father was sentenced in late December to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Today in court, Nez Perce County Prosecutor Justin Coleman presented evidence and concerns for the safety of the community if Ewing was ever let out of prison. He told the court the premediated planning of buying zip ties eight days in advance, practicing using them, and the multiple test runs found at their motel room.
“While in jail for murder, Mr. Ewing continued to display a lack of respect for rules and authority such as starting fights. The Presentence Investigation stated: “…the egregious nature of the crime, defendant’s failure to take responsibility and his continued deviant behavior since being in custody” which led to the recommendation for prison. Overall, Prosecutor Coleman informed the court that Mr. Ewing had a lack of remorse for the murder nor has accepted responsibility for his actions,” a press release states.
“There is no way the defendant can ever be safely supervised in the community. He will never be compliant with parole supervision. For the protection of the community he should be incarcerated for the rest of his life,” Coleman said in court today.
“Mr. Ewing was given grace by Judge Gaskill and the opportunity to have a life outside the walls of a prison cell, I hope he uses it wisely. For the safety of our community, I hope he never gets out,” Coleman added.
