Andrew Baim, who was convicted of second degree murder after killing Nick Valison, was recently sentenced to 295 months in prison — the maximum sentence he could have received.

Baim was found guilty of second-degree murder on Sept. 9, as well as arson and two counts of possession of a stolen vehicle.

Valison was killed Sept. 21, 2023 when Baim ran him over with his truck after the Ravensdale resident confronted Baim about illegal dumping in the neighborhood.

Besides the prosecutors and defense attorney, five people spoke at the Dec. 18 sentencing hearing: Joel Berklund, Valison’s longtime “bike wife”; Detective Sarah Gerlitz, who investigated Valison’s murder; Valison’s sibling Anna Marie Clayhold; wife Tanie Valison, and Baim himself.

When friends and family gathered for the verdict reading, the courtroom was tense — and when the verdicts were read, a flood of relief.

But during the sentencing the speakers wore their emotions, outrage and sorrow alike, on their sleeves while addressing the judge as they pleaded with the judge to give Baim the maximum sentence possible.

Gerlitz told the judge that she believes Baim feels no remorse for his actions and accused Baim of destroying Valison’s memorial the night he was temporarily released from jail on separate charges.

“I say it was intentional because the memorial was not on the main street. It was set back in a quiet neighborhood where he was murdered,” she said. “… This is not a person who feels remorse, but only feels sorry for himself as he sits in this courtroom.”

There is no evidence Baim destroyed the memorial.

Tanie struggled to speak, holding back tears as she described Valison’s character and how Baim was his antithesis and “deserves no leniency or forgiveness.”

“[Nick] spent a lifetime building his career, sharing his intellect, problem solving skills, [his] ability to bring others together and support him,” she said. “This defendant is the opposite of that, making a career out of criminal activity, stealing from others, assaulting others, destroying the property of others, disregarding the law and then escalating to killing an innocent man, one of the best men who spend his entire life trying to do the right thing.

“… Our neighborhood has been forever changed due to the violence that took place there. There once was a close-knit group of people who honestly spent a lot of time together,” she continued.. “It is now a place where people keep to themselves. Nick is gone, and I’m just a reminder of what’s happened… one family has already moved away, and another is selling. What this defendant took from us can’t be restored…. our safe and loving space of 13 years is now cloaked in trauma.”

Defense lawyer Gilbert Levy attempted to convince the judge and the crowd – the latter dressed in Valison’s favorite color, green – that Baim did not deserve the maximum sentence, saying Baim is not “the worst of the worst.”

“In my estimation, at least, Mr. Baim is a poor soul who did not have the benefits that many of us have had. He did not have the benefit of a loving and caring family who guided him through his childhood and who guided him through his adolescence,” Levy said, describing a shattered family life and Baim’s early use of illegal substances. “In determining an appropriate sentence in this case… we’re asking for a measure of mercy for Mr. Baim.”

Baim’s statement was short, read quickly and with little emotion or inflection.

“I just want to apologize to the Valison family,” he said, adding that he was “extremely sorry” and his poor decision was caused by his heavy drug usage. “… Not a day goes by that I don’t wish I could take back everything that’s happened.”

Before handing down the sentence, Judge William Dixon said that he was “judging the whole person.”

“Life isn’t perfect. You just have to play the hand that we’re dealt… it’s not always going to be a perfect situation,” he said. “… I do sense that you are truly remorseful, but this was a situation that was, really, completely avoidable.

“There’s a series of selfish acts that occurred all the way up until the burning of the car,” Dixon continued. “Those are the things, when I look at this case, that are probably the most disturbing.”

Tanie, backed by dozens of friends and family, gave a final statement to the media after the sentence was handed down.

“We made it,” she said, thanking law enforcement, prosecutors, advocates, and the jury for finding Baim guilty. “My husband Nick was a honorable man. He is loved and missed, every single day, and with this verdict, we can continue to honor him while also knowing the person who took him from this world will face true accountability.

“Nick lived his life with no regrets. We now use that term, ‘live like Nick,’ to describe that,” Tanie continued. “We encourage you all the seize the joy in your life, to be a helper, to contribute to your community and, most importantly, to support others in your time of need. This is how Nick lived his life, and we will continue to do that in his name.”

Andrew Baim addressed the court during his Dec. 18 sentencing hearing to tell the family he is “extremely sorry” for his actions. Photo by Ray Miller-Still