Bulletin Column

These reports are from the previous four issues of the Daily Bulletin in Colfax. They are reprinted here for the benefit of Gazette readers who reside outside of Colfax. Some accounts have been updated.

COURT DENIES CONTEMPT

PETITION

An order by the court Dec. 28 denied a petition by Christopher Jack Reid to find County Prosecutor Denis Tracy and Community Corrections Officer Kevin Vogeler in contempt of court for not correcting a pre-sentence investigation report on Reid. He is the former pornographic film star who was convicted of raping a WSU co-ed in a sorority house in 2008. Reid had petitioned to find the two in contempt of court because the report had not been corrected after the court ordered it be done last July 6.

The pre-sentence report was ordered corrected because it incorrectly attributed acts done by another defendant to Reid.

The court Dec. 28 found that Tracy had complied with the court order Oct. 18 by sending the ruling for a correction to Vogeler at his Clarkston office and the indeterminate sentencing review board. It also ruled Vogeler could not be held in contempt of court because he was never specifically instructed by the court to make the corrections. However the court did order Vogeler to make the corrections on the report and send it to the review board.

Reid’s petition sought the corrections because the PSI report is used by the review board when deciding on the length of his sentence.

CITY ACCOUNT NUMBER HEADACHE

City office staffers report they are beginning to feel the impact of a change in the city’s update on its computer program for utility bills. The new computer program assigned new account numbers for the city payments, but most electronic payments made by residents in this month’s billing cycle are being sent under previous account numbers.

The city Tuesday received 82 bill payments with approximately 35 of those done by electronic payments. Only four residents clicked in the new account numbers on their bill when making their payment.

Use of the out-dated account numbers means city employees have to trace the number and customer to move the payment to the new account number.

BLOOD DRIVE AT

Colfax HIGH

Colfax High School Associated Student Body will sponsor a blood drive Friday at the high school. Student donors need to be at least 120 pounds and 5-4 and 16. Those who are 16 or 17 need to have a permission slip from their parents.

The mobile unit from the Inland Northwest Blood Center will be at the high school from 9:30 to 1 p.m. Students can make appointments for donor times. ASB officers notify students when an opening is available at the van and they are dismissed from class to go to the van.

Residents from the community can also make a donation at the van while it is at the school. Appointments can be made by calling Heidi Lowe, ASB advisor, at her school office, 397-5806.

CORONER RULES ON

Rosalia DEATH

The death of Christopher George Jenkins, 44, at his home in Rosalia Dec. 26 has been determined to have been caused by a heart attack, County Coroner Pete Martin reported Monday morning. The death was determined to be from natural causes.

Martin said Mr. Jenkins had a history of coronary problems. Rosalia EMTs and a Medstar helicopter crew from Spokane unsuccessfully attempted to revive Mr. Jenkins after he was stricken.

NEW YEAR’S EVE FIRE

CALLED SUSPICIOUS

A New Year’s Eve fire which destroyed an ATV and an older station wagon off Valley Road in Pullman has been described as “suspicious” by Pullman Fire Investigator Erik Taylor. The fire also damaged the side of an apartment building next to the two vehicles.

Pullman firefighters received the call at 11:42 p.m. The fire appeared to have started in the ATV which was apparently parked at the apartment for snow removal purposes.

When fire crews arrived on the scene the fire was threatening the west side of the three-story apartment building. Fire crews searched the upper apartments of the structure to make sure no one was inside. Heat from the two burning vehicles next to the structure melted vinyl siding on the apartment and scorched the wood underneath.

Taylor is working with the Pullman Police department to determine the cause of the fire.

Endicott SUSPECT

ARRESTED

A bail sum for pre-trial release was set at $5,000 for Brent Jenkins, 44, Endicott, Dec. 29 in superior court. Jenkins was booked into the county jail late Dec. 28 on charges of residential burglary and first degree theft. The arrest report said Jenkins was booked after he came to the sheriff’s office to discuss evidence which had been gathered against him in a series of burglaries from a rural residence in the Endicott area.

The investigation included a check of postings from Spokane pawn shop listings which included items from the victims’ home which had allegedly been pawned by the suspect. It said deputies made a tour of the pawn shops. Among items identified as coming from the victim’s home were a camera and wedding ring set. Jenkins reportedly told deputies many of the other items he pawned belonged to members of his family.

Among conditions of release was an order to stay away from the residence of the alleged victims. Formal charges had not been filed as of Friday.

TREE TRAFFIC HAZARD

Colfax police early Tuesday morning apprehended two juveniles who were attempting to put a Christmas tree in the middle of Main Street between Island and Lake Streets. A report has been forwarded to juvenile court.

Police Dec. 26 apprehended two other Colfax juveniles on a charge of taking an i-Phone from Cougar Food Mart. The owner of the phone was unable to find the phone at the store Dec. 20 after it had unintentionally been left behind. Police received a break in the case when they received a tip that two youths were attempting to sell a phone.

PINE CITY MAN ARRESTED

Frank G. Lazcano, 23, Pine City, was allowed release on his own recognizance Dec. 28 after being booked in jail early that morning on probable charges of burglary and assault. Lazcano turned himself into the sheriff’s office in the early morning hours after learning deputies were looking for him as a suspect in the assault which allegedly took place at a Malden residence.

Deputies responded to Malden Dec. 27 after receiving a report that gunshots had been fired in an alley in Malden. According to the investigation report, none of the people involved in the investigation linked Lazcano to the gunshots.

Lazcano was arrested for allegedly hitting a man and pushing a woman who were visiting a residence on SE Bluebird Street in Malden. The occupant of the house told deputies he was cooking dinner at the time. According to the report, Lazcano said was attempting to locate another subject whom he believed had taken items from him. The man he was seeking reportedly ran out the back door of the residence and Lazcano followed him.

The deputy’s report said the alleged victims recognized the suspect. They went to Lazcano’s residence but were unable to locate him there.

DYW LAUNCH THURSDAY

An introductory meeting for the Colfax Distinguished Young Woman competition will be Thursday, Jan. 5, at 7 p.m. in the JES library. The competition is open to girls in the junior class. The Colfax DYW competition will be March 24. Last year, Colfax had 14 girls compete.

JUDGE ACEY ASSIGNED

Judge William Acey of Asotin has been assigned to preside over the trial of Douglas Fisher who was arrested Dec. 20 as a suspect in the Colfax city case of alleged entries into condominium units at Hill Ray Plaza in Colfax. Fisher, 58, pleaded not guilty Dec. 23 to two charges of residential burglary and one charge of unlawful possession of a firearm. He has been scheduled for trail March 19.

Judge David Frazier recused himself from presiding over the trial because he has known Fisher for years. Both were raised in the Oakesdale area.

CHARGE INVOLVES AK-47

A charge of false reporting was filed Dec. 23 in superior court against Nathaniel B. Washington, 22, after Pullman Police say they found an AK-47 rifle while searching Washington’s vehicle Oct. 19. Washington had earlier reported the rifle stolen. According to the report, Washington told Pullman officers he located the Yugoslavian Century model of the rifle at his mother’s residence. He said he had forgotten it had been left there when he reported it stolen at Pullman.

Washington also faces other charges of unlawful imprisonment and fourth degree assault with domestic violence at the residence of a former girlfriend in Pullman Oct. 15. Officers responded to that report Oct. 19 and said they found the AK-47 in the subsequent vehicle search.

Washington has been summoned to appear in court Jan. 6.

WRECK CUT POWER TO 570

Electrical service to 570 customers was originally knocked out by the Dec. 23 accident on Highway 195 south of Colfax. The power was knocked out when a motorist went off the road and struck a service box in front of the Jeffries residence about three miles south of Colfax.

A report from Avista said most of the customers were cut off because the accident threw a breaker switch. Power was restored to all but 78 of the customers by throwing the switch. Crews also restored service to all but three customers by re-routing them to service out of Albion. That left three customers who were without power until about 7:30 p.m. Friday.