EVANSTON — The case of vandalism to Evanston’s historic Roundhouse in August 2017 came to a close on Tuesday, April 17, when James E. Nordwall, the second of two men charged with felony property destruction in the case, was sentenced in Third District Court. Nordwall will serve six months in the Uinta County Jail followed by three years of supervised probation. 

Nordwall initially pleaded not guilty to the felony property destruction charge, as well as a charge of conspiracy to commit property destruction, but changed his plea as part of an agreement reached with the Uinta County Attorney’s Office back in February.

Uinta County Attorney Loretta Howieson referred to the Roundhouse as “not just an Evanston treasure but a national historic landmark” during the sentencing hearing, arguing that for purposes of general deterrence there should be significant consequences for Nordwall for his role in damaging the building. 

Howieson said Nordwall does not have an extensive criminal background but has had run-ins with local law enforcement in the past. She also said Nordwall was responsible for instructing Dominic Burgess, the other man involved, on how to catapult rocks into the Roundhouse windows to cause more damage than simply throwing them. According to Howieson, Nordwall also resorted to breaking the panes of glass with his bare hands during the drunken vandalism spree. Nordwall was 22 and Burgess 18 at the time of the crime. 

Although the actions of the two men caused approximately $70,000 in damage to the Roundhouse, the City of Evanston’s insurance policy paid for nearly all the repairs, though the city had to pay a $5,000 deductible. Howieson said the result was that Nordwall was “being substantially relieved of financial responsibility” because restitution for the Roundhouse damage was limited to $6,213.08 split between himself and Burgess. 

Evanston Mayor Kent Williams spoke at the sentencing hearing and said, “While I don’t hold any ill will toward this young man, I think it’s important he recognize that he made this decision. It was a very poor one, and I don’t think anybody would argue that.” Williams continued, “This young man has ties to our community and we should have been able to count on him.” 

Williams referenced the enormous amount of work and resources the community has put in to the Roundhouse and said, “I hope he has some time to think about what he’s done.” 

Nordwall was afforded the opportunity to speak on his own behalf and said, “I’m not in disagreement that my actions were pointless and irresponsible…There are no words to express my deepest apologies.” 

Nordwall said he developed a problem with alcohol use when he was young, which resulted in poor decision-making and aggressive behavior. “I wish it didn’t take hurting the people of Evanston to see things differently,” he said. “I hope you can see the person I was eight months ago is not the person I am today.” 

Nordwall’s attorney, Leonard Kaumo, said, “He is still a young man emotionally and mentally.” Kaumo said his client acknowledged he has an alcohol problem and hopes to use the period of sobriety while incarcerated as a first step in entering a treatment program. 

Judge Joseph Bluemel accepted the plea agreement sentence of not less than two and no more than five years of incarceration, with the bulk of that sentence suspended. Nordwall will instead serve the six months in the Uinta County Jail followed by the three years of supervised probation. 

Burgess was previously given a similar sentence, including supervised probation, although in his case all jail time was suspended. 

Nordwall will be subject to drug and alcohol testing and will be prohibited from being in any location where the sale of alcohol is the primary business. He will also be required to complete a substance abuse treatment program, obtain his high-school equivalency certificate, and pay his share of restitution. 

Bluemel said, “This sentence gives you an opportunity to receive some tools to avoid alcohol-fueled mistakes. …I hope this will be a learning experience for you.”