Lamonde gets 2-5 in notorious Planet Fitness beating case

Jordan Lamonde breaks down as his mother begs for mercy for her son at Wednesday's sentencing hearing at Strafford County Superior Court. His attorney, John Durkin, at left. (Rochester Voice photo)

DOVER - The day before his sentencing for the brutal beating of a 19-year-old Farmington woman in the Rochester Planet Fitness parking lot last spring, Jordan Lamonde cut off his ankle bracelet GPS and left his house arrest, apparently for one last fling before in all likelihood he was going to prison.

When his family and attorney finally got a hold of him and told him prosecutors were drawing up arrest warrants, he returned several hours later, with traces of cannabis and cocaine in his system.

It was against this seemingly inexplicable, almost surreal backdrop that Lamonde, of Portsmouth, was sentenced in Strafford County Superior Court on Wednesday afternoon for one of the most notorious, widely watched and publicized crimes in the Northern Seacoast in recent memory.

Lamonde, who showed little emotion except when his mother spoke on his behalf, was sentenced by Judge Mark E. Howard to 2-5 years in state prison, a stiff sentence for an individual who had no history with law enforcement, said Deputy County Attorney Tim Sullivan who prosecuted the case.

Howard, in some of the toughest verbiage he has ever used during sentencing, excoriated Lamonde for the viciousness and "criminal thinking" used in execution of his violent attack and wondered aloud how he was getting off with less than a seven-year sentence.

"How is this not a maximum prison sentence," Howard asked rhetorically. "You kneed her in the face! Watching her head snap back like that was remarkable to me."

Trial testimony showed a dubious motive for the attack: Lamonde's obsessive fury over his belief that the victim's boyfriend had allegedly stolen $30,000 in drug money proceeds from a safe in his house, causing Lamonde to hatch a plan to get even by beating her up as she left her shift at the gym.

The beating that occurred in the parking lot of the Rochester Planet Fitness on June 12, 2017, became the talk of the town and the nation as a portion of the high-def surveillance tape was released by police in an effort to track down the suspect.

The high visibility of the tape on social media and the coming forward of the victim, 19-year-old Erin McCarthy of Farmington, was enough to spark a media frenzy, with media nationwide running the story.

Defense attorney John Durkin spoke to the public shaming Lamonde had experienced due to the coverage while urging Howard to consider a six-month sentence with all but 60 days suspended.

"He has had to leave restaurants without eating his meal because people have recognized him," Durkin said, adding that having been convicted of a felony and the ridicule he has endured should be punishment enough.

But in the end Howard gave the prosecution exactly what they'd asked for, 2-5 years, with six months suspended off the minimum or maximum on good behavior, which means Lamonde could get out in as early as 18 months.

Sullivan said he was very happy with the sentence.

"This sends a strong message that we take these types of violent crimes seriously," he said, adding that while Lamonde could've faced up to seven years, "we try to keep maximums for repeat offenders."

Lamonde, himself, for the first time apologized for what he had done in a public statement to the court prior to sentencing.

"She didn't deserve that," Lamonde said, his voice slightly trembling. "I feel bad for her. If I could talk to you in person I would apologize but I can't cause I'm here."

McCarthy, who had testified at trial and been on hand for sentencing, was unable to come due to work requirements, but Sullivan read a brief statement she had written.

In part, it read, "I hope he gets what he deserves."