BOISE, Idaho — Two young men from the Treasure Valley were sentenced Friday to prison terms after pleading guilty to felony second-degree kidnapping for luring an 18-year-old to a rural area under the pretense of a motorcycle photo shoot before tasing, restraining, and beating him for more than an hour in fall 2025.
Steen Lamb, 22, of Meridian, and Devin Larson, 21, of Eagle, were sentenced by Ada County District Judge Nancy Baskin of Idaho’s 4th Judicial District. Lamb received a sentence of up to 13 years with a minimum of three years to be served; Larson was sentenced to up to seven years with a minimum of two years behind bars.
Both men were also placed on a sentencing alternative known as a rider, which allows the court to review their conduct after the early portion of their sentences and potentially release them to probation if progress warrants it. Judge Baskin made clear, however, that Lamb — identified as the planner of the attack — would serve the balance of his sentence even if he performed well on the rider, given the calculated nature of the crime. Accounting for time already served in the Ada County Jail, Lamb could become parole-eligible within approximately two years.
A Calculated Attack Designed to Silence the Victim
According to prosecutors and court records, the victim arranged a social media meeting in September 2025 to photograph his motorcycle at an Eagle residential subdivision that was still under construction. Once he arrived, Larson took a single photograph before Lamb deployed a taser on the unsuspecting young man. The two then bound the victim’s wrists and feet with zip ties, covered him with a bag, and subjected him to repeated kicks, punches, and additional taser shocks over the course of approximately one hour.
During the assault, Lamb and Larson threatened to kill the victim unless he ended his relationship with a girl who was a mutual friend of Lamb’s. Prosecutors alleged the men pressed a firearm against the victim’s chest during the encounter, though Lamb’s attorney said in court that his client denied having a weapon while acknowledging he did make threats. After the beating, the two took the victim’s phone and sent a message to his girlfriend demanding she break off the relationship.
Before releasing him, the defendants warned the victim they would kill him, his sister, or other family members if he contacted law enforcement. As he rode away on his motorcycle, he later told police he feared being shot in the back. Despite the death threats, the victim reported the incident to Star police at approximately 2 a.m. that same night. Eagle detectives, operating under a contract with the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, took over the investigation. Lamb was arrested later that day; Larson was taken into custody three days afterward.
Both men originally faced second-degree kidnapping and misdemeanor battery charges. Each pleaded guilty to the felony kidnapping count in February, and the battery charge was dismissed. For more on courtroom proceedings across Idaho, see our Courtroom Insider coverage of notable sentencing cases.
Victim and Officials Speak Out in Court
In a statement read on his behalf at sentencing, the victim described the lasting psychological damage of the attack. “The physical pain was real, but what stayed with me even more was the fear and the mental impact,” he said in remarks relayed during the proceedings. “What happened to me was not small or accidental; it was a choice that caused real harm.”
Lamb also addressed the court directly, acknowledging the harm his actions caused to others’ ability to trust. “What I did makes people not trust others, makes people fear,” he said. “I take full responsibility for that. I have deep regret, remorse, and embarrassment.”
Ada County Prosecutor Jan Bennetts commended the victim for coming forward despite serious threats. “This was a planned, calculated attack on a young man who had no idea what was coming,” Bennetts said in a statement released by her office.
Judge Baskin addressed Lamb directly before pronouncing sentence, saying the court would not abandon him but that the severity of the offense required a firm judicial response. “This type of conduct simply needs to have a very serious response by the courts,” she said.
In a case that also drew attention alongside other serious criminal matters in Ada County courts, the incident underscores ongoing concerns about violent crime in the broader Treasure Valley region. Bonneville County readers following criminal court coverage statewide can also review recent charges involving a former elementary school teacher facing 25 sex crime counts.
What Comes Next
Both Lamb and Larson will serve the initial portions of their sentences in Idaho state custody. Judge Baskin will review Larson’s case for possible early release to probation following a satisfactory rider period. Lamb, despite also being placed on a rider, was told by the court that his remaining sentence will be imposed regardless of behavior during that phase. The victim, whose courage in reporting the crime was cited by the prosecutor’s office, continues to deal with the aftermath of the attack. No further court dates were announced at the conclusion of Friday’s sentencing hearing.