Boyd sentenced to prison

William R. Boyd, 55, Pullman, was sentenced to 13 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to a charge of being in possession of a stolen vehicle. Boyd entered the plea Friday under an agreement that the state will dismiss other pending charges, including drug charges filed two weeks ago after an arrest in Palouse.

The plea related to a stolen vehicle case involving a 2008 Toyota Tundra which was reported stolen in Spokane in 2009. The pickup was later found on Boyd’s property where he had allegedly purchased it for parts.

Chief Deputy Prosecutor Byron Bedirian said he recommended the 13-month sentence, which is midpoint in the standard range sentence faced by Boyd, because the defendant had been forthright with officers when the missing Tundra was found on his property. Boyd’s offender score of four was based on previous drug convictions.

The plea bargain ended a drug case which was filed against Boyd Nov. 24. He was charged with being in possession of methamphetamine and prescription drugs as the result of an arrest Oct. 26 in Palouse.

According to the arrest report in that case, officers had been tipped off that Boyd would be driving from Pullman through Palouse that day on the way to Deer Park. Officers set up surveillance in Palouse to watch for a pumpkin colored Lincoln Continental Boyd was believed to be driving. The report said officers received a tip that Boyd that day would be going through Palouse while driving a woman back to Deer Park. She had been in a vehicle with a drug suspect who was arrested in Palouse the previous day.