Former JBLM soldier sentenced to life in prison for murder of Redicab driver
Apr 24, 2025, 5:46 AM
RediCab driver Nick Hokema (Photo courtesy of 成人X站 7)
(Photo courtesy of 成人X站 7)
TUKWILA, Wash. 鈥� The trial for former JBLM soldier Jonathan Kang Lee began and ended in one day Wednesday, as he was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Redicab driver Nick Hokema.
鈥淭his doesn鈥檛 bring him back. It doesn鈥檛 complete that family picture鈥�.but he got some justice,鈥� Hokema鈥檚 fianc茅 Nicole Sharkody said.
Sharkody has been following this case from the get go. She says while the family is happy to see some sort of justice for what happened to Hokema, she believes JBLM has a lot more to answer to.
鈥淎nd I am going to use everything that I have learned about previous cases that JBLM has dropped the ball on and I am going to make sure that people get accountability,鈥� Sharokody said.
In court this afternoon, Lee pled guilty to first-degree murder, admitting he stabbed Hokema in the back of the head and chest.
Before today鈥檚 trial, Lee was also charged with pre-meditated murder and robbery, but those charges were dropped by the judge.
Character witnesses took the stand on behalf of Lee, alongside emotional testimony from Hokema鈥檚 family about the pain Lee has caused them.
鈥淎nd I got to see him afraid. I got to see him afraid,鈥� Sharkody said.
Lee was also convicted of child sex crimes prior to the murder, and will continue to serve 64 additional years for those charges, on top of his life sentence.
The U.S. Army Office of Special Trial Counsel issued the following statement regarding the trial:
The court-martial for the case United States vs. PVT Jonathan K. Lee concluded today at the Cascade Court Complex, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., where he pleaded guilty to the murder of Nicholas F. Hokema.
In addition, he also pleaded guilty to desertion, resisting arrest, and two specifications of failure to obey a lawful order.
The military judge sentenced him to life In prison and a dishonorable discharge.
This sentence is in addition to his previous sentence of 64 years in confinement for felony sexual assault offenses where he also received a dishonorable discharge and forfeiture of all pay and allowances. His prison sentences will be served consecutively.
鈥淲hile nothing the court can do will bring Mr. Hokema back, hopefully this sentence will allow for some closure for his friends and family,鈥� said Lt. Col. Sean Fitzgibbon, circuit chief, Sixth Circuit, Army Office of Special Trial Counsel. 鈥淭his would not have been possible without the tremendous work from the Tukwila Police Department and the Department of Army Criminal Investigation Division.鈥�
PVT Lee will serve his prison sentence at the United States Disciplinary Barracks, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
He will be eligible for parole for these offenses no earlier than 2045.
漏2025 Cox Media Group
