Sincer-A Marie Nerton

SOUTH BEND — The young woman who shot up her grandmother’s house will spend nearly 11 years in prison.

On May 11, Sincer-A Marie Nerton, 19, of Naselle, pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, first-degree kidnapping, theft of a firearm and second-degree theft. Her co-conspirator, Joshua A. Turner, 26, of Naselle, has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.

Pacific County Prosecutor Mark McClain asked the judge to give Nerton the maximum penalty despite her lack of prior criminal history.

“To do otherwise would simply place our community in danger,” McClain said.

Nerton and Turner allegedly raided her grandmother’s Bay Center home on March 3. According to probable cause statements, the pair burst into the 52-year-old woman’s house around 4 a.m., armed with several guns. After shooting a couple of rounds into the ceiling, they allegedly cuffed Nerton’s grandmother to her girlfriend. They ordered a male guest into the bedroom at gunpoint before getting high on meth and looting the house. The pair reportedly took about $2,000 in cash, firearms, jewelry, a Visa card and the victims’ phones.

No one was hurt, but Turner and Nerton allegedly left the house riddled with bullet holes and terrified the victims. The couple released the women before driving away in a car with swapped license plates. The grandmother called 911 from a neighbor’s home.

Records obtained through a public disclosure request show that the first Pacific County Sheriff’s deputies to respond did not arrive until about 90 minutes after the incident, because no one was on duty when it occurred.

The couple fled to Coos County, Ore., where they were arrested separately. Police found Nerton after she asked for a ride in a local online community.

During the robbery, Nerton was reportedly highly intoxicated, with needle marks all over her arms. Her Oregon mugshot showed a thin, disheveled-looking young woman, but in a recent court appearance, she appeared to be healthier. Nerton had gained weight, her skin was clear, and her demeanor was calm and polite.

Nerton did not speak during her sentencing trial, according to McClain. However, he said, her grandmother asked him to let Nerton know that she still loves her.

Nerton will be required to undergo drug treatment and three years of post-release probation.

“Nerton also agreed to participate in locating the firearms in this case to ensure the firearms don’t fall into the wrong hands,” McClain said.