Bad Apple Update

Here's the www.oregonlive.com story:

A Multnomah County judge said she was deeply disturbed by a man who stole cars under the guise of running a legitimate towing company. She then sentenced Ryan Patrick Joynt -- who became notorious to dozens of car owners across the metro area -- to nearly seven
years in prison.

MCSORyan JoyntA mental-health professional who interviewed the 27-year-old for the judge described Joynt as a "conscienceless predator" and "aggressively narcissistic." Joynt had no sympathy for those he stole from, the report said. Instead, he painted himself as the victim, saying he was facing prison only because police and the prosecutor were out to get him.

Joynt was found guilty in September of 14 felonies. Friday, he appeared before the judge with an entirely new attitude as he pleaded with her to be lenient. He said he was sorry for all the harm that he'd caused.

"I've realized that I've made some bad choices in the past, (but) I feel I have a lot to offer the community," Joynt said.

"And what would that be?" the judge asked.

"Working with charities and attending college, hopefully," Joynt answered.

Judge Janice Wilson paused before issuing Joynt a six-year 10-month sentence. She told him what he'd said sounded "very nice" but "I don't believe a word of it." She also ordered him to pay more than $73,000 back to victims.

During his seven-day trial in September, Joynt claimed he took the cars of three people in legitimate business dealings. He admitted to working as a driver for Set Towing, but the prosecutor argued that Joynt was really the driving force behind the company.

In one case, prosecutor Chuck Mickley said that Joynt had a Set Towing driver tow away a man's Dodge truck at the Sandy Mobile Villa in August 2008, even though it was legally parked. The owner said that when he tried to get his truck back by calling Set Towing, the man on the other end of the line refused to tell him where his truck was or how much he'd have to pay to get it back.

Police, who were growing more suspicious of the company because of dozens of other complaints, got the man's truck back a few days later after serving a search warrant at the tow lot.

Joynt's girlfriend, Anna Elizabeth Alonzo, was convicted of theft, among other charges, and was sentenced in June to a little more than a year in prison.

Joynt was convicted of trafficking in stolen vehicles, theft and forgery, among other crimes.

Joynt's attorney, Des Connall, didn't name a specific amount of time he thought Joynt should be in prison, but asked for leniency.

Joynt could end up spending fewer than five years in prison if he receives 30 percent off his sentence for good behavior.

He also faces theft charges in a case in Washington County.

-- Aimee Green