'We didn't know from one minute to the next if he was going to live'
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PUYALLUP, Wash. -- A punch to the face put a young Puyallup man in a coma, and now his family is furious that the man who attacked him is only getting a year in jail.
The incident happened 11 months ago in the parking lot of a Puyallup bar. People had gathered in the lot after closing time when something was said, a punch was thrown and a young man fell to the ground. The man hit his head, and the injury nearly killed him.
The attack left 22-year old James Foster in a coma. His parents worried they would lose him.
"We will never forget the images of his face swollen and black and blue," said Foster's step mother, Lisa Foster. "We didn't know from one minute to the next if he was going to live."
Daman Lehman admits to throwing the punch. He said Foster was annoying him and his friends and made some remark about his car's wheel rims.
Police say that's when Lehman punched Foster in the face, knocking him to the pavement and allegedly saying, "I put people to sleep. That's what I do."
In court on Friday, Lehman agreed to plead guilty to second-degree assault.
"Your honor, I stand before you. I'm sorry. I did not mean it. I pray for their family," he said. "I'm sorry, your honor. That's all I can say."
Foster eventually pulled out of his coma. Doctors say he's making a remarkable recovery, but the traumatic brain injury will have lingering effects.
His family said he was too afraid to come to court on Friday.
"We grieve the loss of our son. He is alive, but he is not the same young man that he was," Lisa Foster said.
Emotions overflowed in court, and even Judge Linda Lee appeared to be having a difficult time with the case.
"At the end of the day, I'm a human being as well," the judge said.
But she said emotions need to be set aside and agreed to sentence Lehman to 12 months in jail.
Foster's family was livid when the decision was handed down.
"James wanted at least 18 months and we thought at least 18 months," said Foster's dad, Darrell Foster.
Eighteen months would have meant prison time. With just 12 months, Lehman will stay in the jail and likely be out in eight months for good time.
Foster's family said they want to change the law to create tougher sentences for such crimes. They say Lehman will likely be out before the end of the year, while their own son will have to deal with his brain injury for the rest of his life.
The incident happened 11 months ago in the parking lot of a Puyallup bar. People had gathered in the lot after closing time when something was said, a punch was thrown and a young man fell to the ground. The man hit his head, and the injury nearly killed him.
The attack left 22-year old James Foster in a coma. His parents worried they would lose him.
"We will never forget the images of his face swollen and black and blue," said Foster's step mother, Lisa Foster. "We didn't know from one minute to the next if he was going to live."
Daman Lehman admits to throwing the punch. He said Foster was annoying him and his friends and made some remark about his car's wheel rims.
Police say that's when Lehman punched Foster in the face, knocking him to the pavement and allegedly saying, "I put people to sleep. That's what I do."
In court on Friday, Lehman agreed to plead guilty to second-degree assault.
"Your honor, I stand before you. I'm sorry. I did not mean it. I pray for their family," he said. "I'm sorry, your honor. That's all I can say."
Foster eventually pulled out of his coma. Doctors say he's making a remarkable recovery, but the traumatic brain injury will have lingering effects.
His family said he was too afraid to come to court on Friday.
"We grieve the loss of our son. He is alive, but he is not the same young man that he was," Lisa Foster said.
Emotions overflowed in court, and even Judge Linda Lee appeared to be having a difficult time with the case.
"At the end of the day, I'm a human being as well," the judge said.
But she said emotions need to be set aside and agreed to sentence Lehman to 12 months in jail.
Foster's family was livid when the decision was handed down.
"James wanted at least 18 months and we thought at least 18 months," said Foster's dad, Darrell Foster.
Eighteen months would have meant prison time. With just 12 months, Lehman will stay in the jail and likely be out in eight months for good time.
Foster's family said they want to change the law to create tougher sentences for such crimes. They say Lehman will likely be out before the end of the year, while their own son will have to deal with his brain injury for the rest of his life.
Gee, maybe he's learned his lesson...look how well leniency worked out for the poor little kids who beat the Tubaman to death. It's all society's fault.
Start a petition on petition.org and spread the word. Let's get some signatures to get that guy 10 years in jail instead.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Daman-Lehman-drives-a-Pontiac-Aztec/309628699111809
The more I read about senseless violence from unexpected sources, the more agoraphobic I become.
It doesn't sound to me like this guy, Lehman knows anything about good behavior. He'll probably lose his temper in jail too. All this because someone said something about his rims. They both acted like childern. Alcohol wins again. But come on if you can't take a commet about car rims, your weak.
Maybe he won't be out in less time for good behavior.. not every one that is in jail is on their best behavior.. hope this is the case~ sorry for James and family having to deal with this horrific ordeal.
Exactly why, when I do go out to a bar for few beers with the buds, I leave well before closing time. Closing time is when all the "tough guys" congregate in the parking lot, puff their chests and prove their "manhood". No one ever wins is a confrontation like this.  James compliments the rims, d-bag Daman takes an alcohol induced offense (Daman was looking for ANY reason to fight) and stupidity prevales. Hopefully he gets his comeuppance in jail.Â
with all sympathy to the family, in my experience bar fights don't just happen spontaneously. sometimes when you open your mouth, someone is there to shut it for you.
still feel bad for the guy though. I also feel a little bad for the KO punch thrower - he surely didn't intend on putting the dude in a coma. bar fight gone wrong.Â
@SwampThing so, never compliment someone's rims or someone will shut your mouth for you?
And you feel sorry for the guy that threw the punch?
@SwampThing It was NOT a bar fight.
Remember family that the law hates to lose, and they hate to lose money..But go after them and the decision made on their part!! It doesn't even make sense!!!! You will win!!
@reelin21 I suppose this makes sense in an alternate universe where twins speak in a language to each other that only they can understand.
I understand that the bad choice in rims guy could be offended by a stranger at a bar making bad remarks but violence is childish and completely shows absolute lack of wisdom. He got 1 year for bringing physical harm and endangerment to another human being deliberately! This young man is still in a coma and this man got one year!!! The judge sucks, the young man's lawyer sucks, and the family should bring a lawsuit to the court system. There has to be a stronger, more deeper, and more reasonable sentence to fit the crime!! Family find a real lawyer and go after the system!!! DO IT AND MAKE YOUR ANGER COUNT!
@reelin21 He's not still in a coma. Didja read the article?
I read in a few other articles that he didn't just "make a comment" about this man's rims. KOMO's article doesn't specify what kind of comment it was. From what I am reading elsewhere, it was actually a compliment that was made. So he says something nice about someone's rims and this POS hits him? Should get at least two years and be forced to watch people beat the crap out of his rims with a sledge hammer. Plus take a look at the POS. He looks like a steroid fiend.
Bar fight over rim-ridicule...dumb and dumber. Hopefully they both learn from this.
@Brokesince08Â YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT
Not only should he get more jail time and become someone's girlfriend but he should also be required to pay all medical costs that were incurred.
@egle If the family has good advice, they will file a civil suit against the puncher for hospital costs and they should put a lien against the car's rims for collateral.
Punching a guy just because he dissed your rims - that's a real man. I think the guy should also be required to attend anger management classes for at least ten years.
We need the jail space to put drug dealers in jail. You know, the guys who want to make money, capitalists..
WOW! 1 stinkin year. A man down Alabama just got 3 years for poisoning a tree, a flipping tree. Up here in the great county of pierce, the POS prosecuter maks a deal for 2nd degree assualt. Do your job you POS pierce county prosecuter. Lazy, just lazy. Oh yeah Lehman any relations to the former person in charge of DOC? Hmmmmmmm wonder if he is did that help in any way to the POS prosecuter giving such a ridiculous lighter charge. I wonder. James Foster been praying for you, glad to see you are getting better.
Thanks for another fail, WA state justice system. Laws here are nothing more than a slap on the wrist and laughable at best.
I want to say THANK YOU to the people who have prayed for my son and my family
@Darrell Foster  Still praying for your son Darrell.  Blessings to your family, no one deserves this kind of trauma.  I hope he does BETTER than expected, and that your family can return to normalcy.  Â
Peace
@Darrell FosterI also pray for him. I also pray that he learned from this
@Exile04 @Darrell Foster what is it that you would hope he learns from this? According to other news he complimented the guys rims.
@Darrell Foster Sure. I pray that he makes a good recovery and comes out of this okay. I know this will change his life forever, but I pray for eternal peace for him and to the rest of your family.Â
Sue the idiot: make him work his butt off the rest of his life to pay against a multi-million dollar debt that even bankruptcy will not erase.
@JLS1950 Yea......another lawsuit. THAT'S how you fix it. All you will accomplish is this loser going so far underground to avoid getting a job, that he'll just become just like a deadbeat dad, and NO ONE will get paid. Besides.....do you really think that MONEY will fix the damage? I think not.
@Takamine @JLS1950 You would be surprised. A former friend who committed slander against a co-worker is STILL paying on the judgment as she works to support herself following a divorce. No, people do end up paying, and if they manage to hide well enough, they are in prison in a sense anyway. Often, they elect to settle instead and give up all personal assets. Either way, it is some pretty painful punishment.Â
As Kawasaki noted, lawsuits are the ONE means that law-abiding citizens have to go after miscreants who have done them wrong and who are not going to be prosecuted or prosecuted adequately under criminal law. They are also the ONE mean by which people can seek some "compensation" for losses. Don't go biting at the "tort reform" bait that really just denies people any justice when they have been robbed in whatever way.Â
@Takamine @JLS1950  If you are a law abiding citizen... Suing someone is the only thing you can do to get back at someone.. especially if it's the paycheck (garnish)...  Running and quiting jobs to avoid paying a lawsuit does get tiresome... It's very hard to have a normal life (especially if you have a wife and kids) with a lawsuit over your head....  so as far as if money would fix it... probably not the way you would want to take care of itself... Stocking the individual and his family to find out times and places where they go, and then outfitting yourself  with a black mask, pants, shirt and shoes; utilizing the weapon of choice -- would probably feel alot better... but then you are no better then the jerkoff that starting this whole blog-versation.  So I guess taking money from him would probably be the best way to hurt him.
@Takamine Place a lien on the rims (and car).
@KawasakiKid450 @Takamine @JLS1950 The POINT is...no one will ever get a dime from him. Unless this guy is truly remorseful, and WANTS to make it up to the family and the victim, suing him is like peeing up a rope.
to hit someone half your size shows how small u really r what a woman beater and ant tough enough to handle his own mind .
People need to grow up. its a fight that went bad. fights happen, i promise he was acting like a prick, talking bad, and he got hit. It life you cant go around trying to act tough and not expect something to happen. Maybe if his parents didn't baby him his whole life he would know that. Nobody wanted him to have it that bad but it was a ACCIDENT, does anyone remember what those are?
@Exile04 the man just isent a man pure and simple, hes cried like all women beaters do. and hed do it again and has got some one like u on his side u like this u wish u could be like him u cant handle someone talking about your momma? get a nard or at least grow some hair!
@maggie112Â @Exile04 i didnt say i approved, i said people need to learn from this instead of just blaming others.Â
@maggie112Â @Exile04 Please get a grip on your keyboard, the English language, and how to type full sentences before posting in here again? You're not texting your 12 year old girlfriends right now. The "adults" are having a conversation. Go to your room until your homework is DONE!
@maggie112 @Takamine @Exile04 Yet MORE proof that you're too young to be in here. Nice, witty comeback there maggie, and no, I DON'T want to buy any of your cookies so stop stalking me outside the stores.
@Takamine @maggie112 @Exile04 yes and your boy friend is in jail
drunk drivers that kill people in Washington get about the same time as this POS....makes me ill. I pray that the family not let the sentence control their emotions. I know easier said than done but they need to focus their energy on James
This is sad. This thug will be able to get out and have a drink and say "Yeah, I been to jail", but the man he hit will be forever changed.
I do also feel we need to bring the courts up to modern society. It's just not right. The victim is left to suffer for ever and the guilty get to continue their party.
Just sad.
"Foster's family said they want to change the law to create tougher sentences for such crimes"
Yes, it is time some of our laws come forward out of a 1940's mentality. This case should have resulted in more time.Â
Yep, back out in 8 months to start hitting the bar and someone else again.
DAMAN HEATH LEHMAN Pierce County Corrections Custody Status: In Custody
Jail Name: LEHMAN, DAMAN
Last Booking Number: 2013081026
Future Release Date/Time: 11/16/13 08:00Â
Several people here should remember this next time you argue to take the rights of others away. We don't deal with serious crime seriously. Look for this guy again in the future. When it happens, blame this ruling not those who follow the rules.
Â
Hey, you can't let someone insult your WHEEL RIMS! Â C'mon, people where are your priorities?! Â
(Seriously, just be careful out there, everyone. Â There are more and more hotheads and their fuses are getting shorter by the day).
@belsnickles That's basically what I was trying to say.....THEN I got ambushed by ten year olds with egos and a deep hatred for this guy. lol. Maybe it's how I worded it? No sympathy for the victim? I dunno. People are SO sensitive lately.
@Takamine @belsnickles this is America not MEXICO we have more respect then going off on a I dont know what he said but im gonna hit him...
@maggie112Â You make no sense.Â
@Takamine @belsnickles I think people don't like any hint of "blaming the victim", and while I agree that it is squarely the fault of the guy who did the punching, the fact is we all have to be careful these days not to pis? off the wrong person.  If the idiot in question had been armed, this young man would probably not even be here.
@Takamine @belsnickles by the way, want to make sure I'm not implying this is limited to men... Plenty of women out there letting alcohol do the thinking and talking out there...
@Takamine @belsnickles How many young men exercise common sense in a bar parking lot at closing time? Certainly I feel sympathy for the young man who was hurt. Sounds like alcohol was doing all the talking...
@belsnickles @Takamine Agreed. At the same time, he didn't HAVE to become a victim. He could have exercised common sense and kept his mouth shut. At least he's still breathing. A lot of people who have made the same mistake that he did.........aren't.