Sandoval sentenced to rider in kidnapping and aggravated assault case

Published at 6:11 pm, March 7, 2016 | Updated at 9:33 pm, March 7, 2016

Natalia Hepworth, EastIdahoNews.com

Sandoval 2 — Ivan Sandoval speaking during sentencing.

IDAHO FALLS — The first of five felons responsible for kidnapping and assaulting a local man in August was sentenced Monday.

Ivan Sandoval was one of two charged with second-degree kidnapping. The 20-year-old Pinedale, Wyo., man was sentenced to an underlying prison term with a minimum of three years to a maximum of 10 years. He will be placed in a Rider program, which is a 90-day to one-year rehabilitation program held in a minimum security prison. Should Sandoval successfully complete his Rider he will be placed on probation.

During the sentencing, Sandoval’s defense attorney Curtis Smith moved to clarify on the record that his client was not actively involved in the planning to kidnap and assault Brandon Bykonen.

“On that morning I don’t think my client knew he was going to end up at that house with any of those other co-defendants,” Smith told the court.

He explained that on the day of the incident Sandoval had planned to meet up with Bykonen. Prior to the kidnapping Bykonen and Sandoval were using methamphetamine together.

When they had run out of meth, Bykonen indicated they needed to go to the home of Alvaro Oseguera to get more drugs. Smith said Sandoval’s decision to use drugs that day led to other events.

Police reports show Bykonen was tied up by suspects in Oseguera’s home and taken to the foothills of Bonneville County where his fingers were “hacked” off.

Smith said pre-sentencing investigators were misled by previous court documents, which indicated Sandoval was part of the planning. In that report investigators said Sandoval showed no remorse and didn’t take the case seriously.

Bonneville County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tanner Crowther spoke on behalf of Bykonen. The victim chose not to appear in court because he felt traumatized because of this event.

Crowther said Bykonen’s feeling of betrayal regarding Sandoval run deep. He said Sandoval committed a serious crime, although it wasn’t as serious as the other co-defendants.

Sandoval told the court he did feel remorse for what happened because he was friends with the victim.

“I didn’t know he was going to get hurt, I didn’t want him to get hurt,” Sandoval said.

District Judge Bruce Pickett said Sandoval isn’t being blamed for the mayhem that took place, just that he failed to act and or do anything to help to victim.

Pickett said he must make progress at getting a GED and take substance abuse classes while on his Rider program. He said Sandoval must show significant improvement or serve the underlying sentence of three to 10 years.

“You need to start taking responsibility for your own life,” Pickett said. “You should be in a situation where you’re contributing to society instead of being a burden on society.”

Alvaro Oseguera, Devan Crawford, Anaya Faustino, and Sara Oden were additional suspects in this case. Crawford is set to appear in court next on Mar. 16, Faustino on Mar. 30, Oden on Apr. 13 and Oseguera on Mar. 15.

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