photo by: Douglas County Sheriff's Office

Left to right: Sean P. McCawley, Stephanie A. Wiggins, Jason V. Spaniol.

One of three people who allegedly held a suspected “snitch” in a basement for hours while they questioned him and threatened him with weapons was sentenced to probation Friday.

All three suspects reportedly smoked methamphetamine at the beginning of their interrogation of the alleged victim, during which they blamed him for pending drug charges against them, the Journal-World previously reported. They were first charged in February.

Jason Spaniol, 41, of Lawrence, was accused of threatening the 34-year-old man by heating the claw end of a hammer with a butane torch, holding it within “centimeters” of the victim’s leg and telling him, “people always talk when you put this (the hammer) on your leg,” according to the police affidavit in the case.

Records in his case file indicate that Spaniol entered a plea agreement and was convicted of criminal threat and aggravated assault, both felonies, on Sept. 26. He had initially been charged with kidnapping as well.

On Friday, a judge sentenced him to 24 months of probation, according to Dorothy Kliem, trial assistant for the Douglas County district attorney’s office. He must obtain a substance abuse evaluation and follow its recommendations, complete an anger management counseling course and submit to random drug and alcohol testing, Kliem said via email Friday.

Spaniol has an underlying sentence of 22 months in prison should his probation be revoked. The court waived all costs, Kliem said.

Spaniol’s former co-defendants, Sean McCawley, 43, of Lawrence, and Stephanie Wiggins, 38, of Shawnee, were both in the custody of the Douglas County Jail Friday afternoon, jail records show. They have hearings scheduled for March 6 to be followed by jury trials March 16, online court records indicate.

Spaniol is to have no contact with the victim or co-defendants, Kliem said.