Dennis Phillips, seen here before he was attacked and paralyzed during a robbery at his home.
Former Coupeville High School athlete Paul Schmakeit served half his sentence for his role in a home break-in which left the 68-year-old homeowner, Dennis Phillips, permanently paralyzed.
The Washington Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification Service (VINE) reported Schmakeit was released Friday from custody at the Monroe Corrections Center.
After pleading guilty to second degree residential burglary and assault charges, he was sentenced to 20 months in prison Oct. 28, 2016.
He began his sentence at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton before being transferred to Monroe.
As a young man, Schmakeit played on the 2010 Central Whidbey Little League Juniors baseball team which won a state title.
He went on to play football and baseball at Coupeville High School, graduating in 2013.
Schmakeit and Codie Burley broke into a Greenbank residence July 27, 2015 — allegedly in an attempt to obtain marijuana plants — when Phillips unexpectedly returned and engaged the robbers.
The former Wolf football player tackled the older man, landing on top of him and breaking his back, as detailed in police reports.
Schmakeit fled into the woods and was later arrested while trying to avoid a customs inspection at the Canadian border at Sumas.
He was found in possession of a handgun.
Burley is currently serving time at the Cedar Creek Corrections Center in Thurston County.
Phillips, who was not discovered until six hours after the crime, underwent extensive spinal surgery but remains paralyzed below the waist to this day.
To help Phillips and his family, pop over to:
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