Grimm receives maximum sentence for attempted murder

Brian B. Grimm was sentenced to a maximum of 15 years for attempted first-degree murder after he was found guilty of trying to run over his roommate with his car.

Grimm, 60, of Culdesac, was convicted March 19 of attempted murder in the death of Michael S. Dranichak. He was sentenced Monday by 2nd District Judge Mark Monson at the Nez Perce County Courthouse to 15 years in prison, meaning he must serve the entire sentence before being released. He received credit for 434 days for his time in the Nez Perce County Jail. Grimm was also ordered to pay Dranichak a $5,000 fine, $245.50 in court costs and a 15-year ban on contact with Dranichak.

Grimm's sentencing was scheduled for June 21, but his public defender, Rick Cuddihy, noted several problems with the investigative report submitted, so Monson moved up the sentencing date to allow for changes.

Grimm was then scheduled to be sentenced on September 20, and at that hearing Grimm wanted David Whitecotton to attend the hearing and speak as a witness on his behalf. Whitecotton is also incarcerated at the Nez Perce County Jail on charges of driving under the influence, persistent felony assault and five misdemeanors. Monson didn't want Whitecotton to attend the sentencing and overwhelm prison staff with transporting him and Grimm. Cuddihy did not want Whitecotton to testify as a witness because it would allow for cross-examination by the prosecution. Instead, Cuddihy asked Whitecotton to write a letter of support.

At that Sept. 20 hearing, Monson also pointed out that Whitecotton had filed several documents on Grimm's behalf as “attorney,” but had struck them from the record because Whitecotton was not a licensed attorney. Whitecotton is representing himself in his own criminal case and was present at the Zoom verdict from prison.

Whitecotton also filed a motion for a new trial, and Monson allowed that motion, viewing it as a motion by the defendant. However, he denied the request for a new trial and told Grimm he could appeal or seek restitution after conviction. He also requested that further motions be filed through his qualified public defenders, Cuddihy and Joe Schumacher.

Nez Perce County Assistant Prosecutor Kali Jo Parker summarized the facts presented at trial. Dranichak was Grimm's roommate and had rejected Grimm's sexual advances. Then on July 21, 2023, Dranichak and Grimm went to the store and then Grimm left without Dranichak. Dranichak made his way home and then Grimm came with his dog. Dranichak was angry and told Grimm that he was leaving and wanted Grimm to be gone for two days while he packed his things. Grimm then ran over Dranichak three times, throwing Dranichak “like a rag doll.”

Dranichak was not present to provide a victim impact statement and did not write a statement, but did make comments during the presentation of the investigative report.

Although Dranichak did not suffer any serious injuries, Parker noted that the incident had an impact on him. She said he moved to New York and was struggling with homelessness. He is suffering from psychological stress and pain due to a herniated disc, which may require surgery.

“He thought he was going to die that day and Brian Grimm was going to kill him,” Parker said of Dranichak.

She pointed out in the investigative report that Dranichak said he was not Grimm's first victim and would not be his last.

“The defendant has murdered someone before,” Parker said.

Parker highlighted his 1996 murder case in which he killed his roommate, 47-year-old David Miller. He was convicted by a jury of second-degree murder in 1997. She said in this case, Grimm kept changing his story about how the incident occurred.

“The defendant’s conduct in 1996 is a reflection of how the defendant conducts himself in this court,” Parker said. “Brian Grimm is still being dishonest and taking no responsibility. This is a pattern of behavior.”

Parker mentioned a 2018 case in which the Nez Perce County sheriff was called to Grimm and Dranichak's home. Dranichak said he rejected sexual advances from Grimm and that Grimm became angry and hit him 12 times with a soda bottle. Grimm was then charged with disturbing the peace.

Parker described how Grimm has roommates, they reject him, he gets angry and kills, or in Dranichak's case, tries to kill. She said Grimm needed the maximum sentence as a deterrent to his release “if he takes another roommate with him.”

Parker highlighted other areas in the investigative report that showed contradictory statements from Grimm and victim blaming. The report also found Grimm was at high risk of reoffending and recommended a prison sentence.

In his argument to the court, Cuddihy noted that he still had problems with the investigative report submitted, even though it contained changes.