Brother and sister Kane and Trissa Handsaker are both going to prison for a shooting that occurred in March of 2022. Kane, 19, who shot the gun, will be 31 years old when released from prison. Trissa, 21, who drove the car, will be 26 when she gets out.
On March 1, 2022, three people in a car in the west side of Madras were involved in the drive-by shooting of Israel Machic-Holliday.
Kane Handsaker, then 18, asked his older sister, Trissa Handsaker, then 20, for a ride. He had put a gun in his waistband, and the state contends he intended to shoot Israel Machic-Holliday, who was walking nearby. Alex Findley was a passenger in the vehicle. Machic-Holliday was accompanied by a friend.
The state says the shooting was gang related, supported by evidence that Kane Handsaker was, according to the state, “a wannabe gang member” of the Sorenos gang.
They presented evidence from the teen's Facebook page where he had hung a blue bandana, associated with the Sorenos, over the street sign for Madison Street in Madras. His Facebook profile photo features him pointing a gun at the camera, and his Facebook intro reads: "Kill a norteño win a prize, Kill a Sureño your whole family dieS" (sic)
The state's timeline of events, largely uncontested by the defense, is that on that day, the siblings got in the car together, with Trissa Handsaker driving. They passed Machic-Holliday, who was wearing red, the color associated with the rival Nortenos gang. The state claims initial shots were fired on Madison Street, directly in front of the Jefferson County Community Center. The defense alleged shots were not fired then, but video footage from a surveillance camera shows those inside the vehicle having some form of altercation with Machic-Holliday and the friend he was walking with.
The prosecution then stated that the car, driven by Trissa Handsaker, did a loop, and pulled up next to Machic-Holliday again near Second and K streets, firing shots, which missed. At this time, Kane Handsaker’s hat fell out of the vehicle. Trissa Handsaker claims that she turned the car around again to retrieve the hat. It was at this third interaction at Second and I streets that Kane Handsaker fired again, this time striking Machic-Holliday in the chest.
A third person in the vehicle, Alex Findley, called emergency services, which attended Machic-Holliday on the scene. Machic-Holliday was life-flighted to the hospital, where he spent a week. He still has the bullet in his chest from the incident.
“You are lucky you are not facing murder charges,” said Judge Wade Whiting during the sentencing of Kane Handsaker. The court held a settlement conference Friday, March 10. “You are young and have a great ability to change. Gang activity never ends well.”
Kane Handsaker reached a settlement agreement on his initial charges of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault with a firearm, and unlawful use of a weapon. He pled guilty to first-degree assault with a firearm and attempt to commit any degree of murder or aggravated murder – murder in the second degree. He was sentenced to 156 total months in prison with three years’ post-prison supervision, and credit for time served. He will not be eligible for any form of sentence reduction. His release date will be in 2035.
At his sentencing, Kane Handsaker read a letter, where he claimed all blame for the incident, asking the court to have mercy on his sister. “My sister did not know what I was planning on doing that day,” stated the letter. “I hope that the court will see the blame should be placed on me, not her.”
After sentencing Kane Handsaker, the court moved on to sentence Trissa in an open sentencing hearing after her no contest plea to the charges. In this case, each side presents the evidence they would have presented at trial, heard by the judge, before he determines the sentence.
The state began with testimony from Madras Police Sgt. Steve Webb, who was an investigator in the case. Webb testified to the facts of the case, as presented by the state. He also testified about the drastic increase in gun violence in Madras over the last 10 years.
He stated that between 2010 and 2013, Madras PD received about 100 calls reporting gunshots. Between 2020 and March 2023, they’ve received over 200 calls about gunshots. “I think the most drastic and telling information is how significant an increase in gun-related calls we’ve had in recent years,” said Webb. Webb then listed recent incidents of gun violence in Madras, citing incidents like the events of the 2022 Jefferson County Fair, the Halloween murder in Strawberry Heights, and a shooting at Sahalee Park.
Defense attorney Tim Gassner presented a case that Trissa Handsaker was not materially involved in the crime, bringing family and friends to testify, as well as presenting her clear criminal history.
“My client had no way of knowing what her brother intended to do that day,” said Gassner. “If she had, she never would have given him the ride.”
Gassner stated that “Trissa Handsaker was not acting with intention or malice but was just reacting. She had no conscious thoughts during the incident. She loved her little brother, to a fault, despite his desires to be a wannabe gang member.”
Gassner said he intended to present “who Trissa Handsaker is.” He shared she has no juvenile, criminal or school disciplinary record, and the support of many family and community members.
At the time of the incident, Trissa Handsaker worked at Great Earth Café in Madras. Gassner stated that he had spoken with them, and they stated she was an amazing employee, and would hire her back if she was released.
The court then heard from multiple family members, who shared that she was involved in many school activities as a high school student, including being captain of the Madras High School cheer and pep squad, and later assisting in coaching the squad after graduating.
“I love both my children dearly, though they are very different people,” said Ryan Handsaker, Kane and Trissa’s father. “Trissa is a loving and caring person who would never intentionally hurt anyone. She sees the best in everyone.” Trissa Handsaker wiped tears from her eyes as family members spoke.
Trissa then read a letter addressing the court, and victim Machic-Holliday. “Israel, I am so deeply sorry for what has happened to you.”
A statement from the victim’s mother was then read. “You can never understand what pain this has caused for our family,” said Machic-Holliday’s mother in a statement read by assistant district attorney Brentley Foster. “She committed the same crimes and deserves the same punishment for her involvement.”
The defense asked the court for a sentence of time served for Trissa Handsaker. The state asked for 90 months.
“This should act as a statement and deterrent for anyone engaging in this type of behavior that the community will not tolerate it,” said Foster. “She chose to turn that car around, she chose not to do anything to help the victim while he laid in the street with a bullet in this chest, and she chose to lie to police about the incident when questioned.”
After hearing the facts of the case, and Trissa Handsaker’s no contest plea to attempt to commit a Class A felony – assault in the first degree, Judge Whiting discussed the mitigating factors in the case.
“I am not sentencing you as a deterrent to others, nor on the actions of others, but on your own actions,” said Whiting. “This is too serious an offense and too high an involvement from you to release you today.”
Whiting then sentenced Trissa Handsaker to 81 months or just under seven years, the minimum standard sentence for the charge. Trissa Handsaker will be eligible for all prison programs and will serve 36 months post-prison supervision.
Trissa Handsaker held a hand to her mouth and began crying as the sentence was read.