Nearly three years after shooting at and attacking his neighbor, Sequim man James Luoma, 69, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Judge Brent Basden sentenced Luoma on April 22 in Clallam County Superior Court to 240 months in prison for attempted murder in the first degree with time served, 36 months of community custody and a no contact order with the victim.

Luoma changed his plea to guilty on April 17 after numerous trial delays.

He was arrested by Sequim Police officers on April 27, 2022 on the 700 block of West Heritage Loop in the Hendrickson Estates manufactured home park after shooting at and attacking his then- 49-year-old neighbor.

According to court documents, the neighbor sought a protection order but was unable to obtain one as she didn’t know his birthday, and later that day Luoma walked to her home, fired a gun multiple times at her and missed.

Police reported that the neighbor did not reciprocate romantic feelings to Luoma.

She ran to a garage next door where Luoma confronted her again and hit her head against a refridgerator and the floor, Sequim Police reported.

The neighbor was able to take the gun from Luoma during the struggle. She was able to fire several rounds, shooting Luoma’s thumb off in the process. She was also able to throw the gun out of the garage, according to court documents.

Sequim Police officers soon arrived and detained Luoma.

With no previous offenses, Luoma faced a standard range of 180-240 months in prison for the felony. The Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office recommended 180 months in prison with credit for time served, a no contact order with the neighbor and 36 months of community custody, according to court documents.

Clallam County Deputy Prosecuting attorney Steven Johnson, who worked the case, said he recommended 180 months for Luoma because the victim “suffered significant psychological trauma from Luoma’s (attempt) to kill her” and that “testifying could have exacerbated that trauma.”

“It is a miracle that she lived,” he said.

For their efforts in the case, Johnson gave thanks to the Washington State Patrol Crime Scene Response Team and Sequim Police Department, including Sgt. Maris Larsen, Chief Mike Hill, and detectives Kindryn Leiter and Rick Larsen, for their work locating a chair in Luoma’s house pointed directly at the neighbor’s house, evidence of Luoma owning the gun used in the shooting, and obtaining a confession from Luoma.

Hill wrote in an email to the Gazette that the Sequim Police Department commends “the exceptional bravery demonstrated by the survivor of this attack.”

“Her strength and courage throughout the investigation and court proceedings have been truly remarkable,” he said.

“The resolution of this case underscores the importance of vigilance and collaboration between citizens and law enforcement.”

He also thanked those involved in the investigation, including police officers and detectives and the “Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for bringing this case to a close, reaffirming our commitment to the relentless pursuit of justice.”

At the April 22 sentencing hearing, a victim impact statement was read, Luoma addressed the court, and his stepdaughter asked but was not allowed to address the court, according to court documents.

Luoma’s attorney Karen Unger had previously sought forensic evaluations of his “diminished capacity.”

In a March 21, 2025 forensic evaluation by Dr. Sierra Stillwater with the Office of Forensic Mental Health Services, she found Luoma “possessed the capacity to form the requisite mental states of ‘premeditated intent’ and ‘intent’ for listed charges, and at the time of the then-alleged offense he had “borderline personality traits.”