A 22-year-old man was sentenced to 11 years in prison Friday for his role in the 2006 shooting death of a Puyallup father of six.

Andrew Dahlquist pleaded guilty last month to first-degree manslaughter, saying he acted as an accomplice in the May 6, 2006, slaying of James Nicholas “Nic” Stewart, 27. Dahlquist had originally been charged with second-degree murder, first-degree assault and unlawfully possessing a gun.

In a plea bargain, the charges were lowered to first-degree manslaughter. Dahlquist also pleaded guilty to an unlawful gun possession charge in a separate case.

Prosecutors and Dahlquist’s attorney made a joint recommendation of 11 years in prison. Pierce County Judge Frank Cuthbertson followed the recommendation during a sentencing hearing Friday morning.

Stewart and a friend were shot while in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 12400 block of Military Road East in the early hours of May 6, 2006.

The friend tried to drive Stewart to the hospital but crashed along the way. Stewart died of his injuries.

Witnesses said the shooting happened after Stewart and the friend approached a car occupied by two men. The friend told Pierce County sheriff’s detectives they exchanged words with the occupants and then the men pulled out guns.

Pierce County prosecutors contended the two men were Dahlquist and Jeff Tofstad. Tofstad killed himself in June 2006.

Dahlquist was charged in January 2008 and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was taken into custody three months later at a Parkland strip club.

Dahlquist will get credit for the time he’s already served in the Pierce County Jail.

Stacey Mulick, The News Tribune