A homeless man who was angry over a noisy leaf blower and swung a hatchet at the head of a maintenance worker in downtown Portland was sentenced Tuesday to 30 days in jail and drug treatment.

Nathan John Roy Shrader already has served 55 days in jail since his arrest on Dec. 19 and was expected to be released late Tuesday.

Investigators say Shrader had been sleeping outside a 7-Eleven convenience store at Southwest Fourth and Taylor Street when Kenneth Holland, a maintenance worker for Standard Insurance, began blowing debris from the sidewalk nearby at about 7:45 a.m. that day. Shrader woke up and began yelling at Holland before swinging the hatchet, hitting the side of the worker’s head where he was wearing safety goggles.

It was a bustling Wednesday morning during the work commute and passers-by grabbed the hatchet from Shrader. He ran off but was soon found in the area by police and identified by his many distinctive tattoos, investigators say.

During Shrader’s plea and sentencing hearing, Deputy District Attorney Nicole Hermann said the bulbous back end of the hatchet struck Holland’s head and not the front sharp edge. Police noticed swelling and originally thought Holland was seriously injured, but later realized his injuries weren’t lasting.

“Ultimately, Mr. Holland and Mr. Shrader are very lucky that Mr. Holland was not much more seriously injured,” Hermann said.

If Holland had been, Shrader could have faced a years-long prison sentence.

“I wish that this hadn’t happened,” Shrader told the judge. “I don’t understand what clicked in my brain, but I apologize to the court for wasting time and to the victim.”

Shrader pleaded no contest to attempted second-degree assault. Defense attorney Jonathan Sarre said his client doesn’t remember the attack.

Shrader has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, according to court papers. He told jailers that he uses methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana and alcohol, and panhandles for money. He said he’s able to see his 4-year-old child when he’s sober, according to court papers.

On the morning of the attack, Shrader and another man had been sleeping outside the 7-Eleven. The sidewalks lining the store long have been a popular spot for homeless people to sit or sleep. The store used to blast classical music from outdoor speakers. But last month, The Portland Mercury reported that the store tried a new tactic: Blasting an annoying, high-pitched sound as a deterrent.

Multnomah County Circuit Judge Kelly Skye approved the terms of a plea agreement, sentencing Shrader to the jail time, three years of probation, drug treatment and to follow all orders of his probation officer, including wearing a GPS device or taking anger management classes if told to do so.

Shrader also must refrain from using drugs and alcohol and stay away from several blocks that include the 7-Eleven and the Standard Insurance Building, where his victim works.

Skye urged Shrader to embrace treatment and follow his probation officer’s orders.

“I hope this is a wake-up call for you,” Skye said. “... When there are stranger-on-stranger incidents, it makes everybody feel unsafe. It has been a concern for people who work in this building and the buildings around here.”

-- Aimee Green

agreen@oregonian.com

o_aimee

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