2 sentenced in gas station assault

SOAP LAKE — Two men were sentenced in connection with a July assault that ended with shots being fired by the assault victim.

Michael France, 51, of Hartline, and Bernard Brill, 56, of Coulee City, pleaded guilty in Grant County Superior Court to fourth-degree assault and were sentenced to 364 days of jail confinement, with 304 days suspended for two years.

The sentences for the two men relate to an alleged drug-related debt that 30-year-old Logan Halladay, of Soap Lake, owed the pair. France and Brill went to Halliday’s work at the Gas-N-Go gas station on Division Street South in Soap Lake searching for him several times on July 12 before the shooting occurred 9:45 p.m. that night.

Halliday arrived at the business about 9:40 p.m. and was confronted by Brill and France in the parking lot. The three men argued for a few minutes and France hit Halliday in the back of the head with a miniature replica baseball bat. Halliday responded by brandishing a gun and held the two men, along with Siobana L. France, 40, of Almira, at gunpoint for about 30 seconds.

Brill attempted to leave and started heading toward state Route 28 through the parking lot. He was reportedly traveling in the opposite direction of Halliday and drove for about 10-20 feet before Halliday fired three rounds into the back window of the vehicle. No one was struck by the bullets.

“At no time from the initial assault was there another threat posed to Halliday by the two men. According to the video, he has sufficient distance from the men, and a clear exit if needed. Halliday had the opportunity to retreat inside the business and secure the doors, but chose not to,” wrote Soap Lake Police Chief Ryan Cox.

Holiday is currently charged in Grant County Superior Court with second-degree attempted murder.