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.

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ARTS BALLOTING UNDERWAY

The banners in this year’s H’art of the Palouse contest sponsored by Colfax Arts Council have been mounted on two blocks in downtown Colfax. Balloting cans for the People’s Choice award have been placed at Ace Hardware, Colfax Chamber of Commerce, Whitman Library, Top Notch, Rosauers, City Hall, Events on Main, Fonk’s and Palouse River Quilts.

Residents can cast ballots until June 6 when the entrants will be honored at a Meet the Artist(s) session at the library. A $300 prize determined by an out-of-town panel of judges will also be announced.

CASINO THEFT ARREST

Sheldon Bailey of Moscow was allowed release on his own recognizance Friday in superior court after a first appearance following his arrest on a probable charge of second-degree theft. Bailey, 22, was arrested May 16 and booked into jail here.

The arrest report filed with the case was done by a special agent for the Washington State Gambling Commission. He said a member of the staff at Zeppoz Casino in Pullman reported April 9 that $2,000 was missing from the previous day’s proceeds. The report alleges Bailey as a security officer at the casino was assigned to deliver the cash proceeds to the bank and the amount deposited at the bank was $2,000 less than the amount Bailey was given to take to the bank.

Bailey confirmed a report by the prosecutor that he was about to leave Moscow because he had graduated from the University of Idaho the day before with a degree in general studies. He assured the court that he would return to face the charges if summoned. He plans to reside in Honolulu.

Bailey was a running back on the University of Idaho football team in 2011. He was listed on the roster as Kama Bailey.

PLANNING GETS CHICKENS

The chickens-in-Colfax topic has now been assigned to the Colfax Planning Commission, Mayor Todd Vanek reported to the city council Monday night. Vanek said the planning panel has been asked to look at the proposal from a zoning perspective.

The report came after Donna Huntwork inquired about when the city council would reconsider a previous decision to keep the city’s ban on chickens.

Councilman David Nails again noted chickens have become a problem in Palouse. At an earlier council session he noted chicken raising in Palouse has led to a raccoon problem.

CHARGES FILED IN Colfax CASE

Garrett E. Finch, 26, one of the suspects in a warrant search arrest at Colfax April 25, has been charged with possession of marijuana with an intent to deliver and possession of methamphetamine. Finch has been summoned to appear in court May 31.

The Colfax Police arrest report said officers and deputies seized methamphetamine and marijuana at the residence on Park Street. The report said police received a report that Finch was observed using meth while a young child was present in the house.

The report also said baggies, a digital scale and laptop computer were seized at the scene.

Officers after the arrest at Colfax confirmed Asotin County had issued arrest warrants on Finch.

FAILED DRUG TEST NETS 30 DAYS

Jonathan M. Morris, 32, Moscow, was ordered to serve 30 days in jail Friday for failing to meet requirements of drug court. Deputy Prosecutor Daniel Le Beau told the court he didn’t believe Morris was capable of meeting the drug treatment provisions.

After he ordered Morris to serve the 30 days, Judge David Frasier told Morris he “will be gone” if he appeared in court again for another program failure.

To enter the drug court treatment program, defendants waive their right to a jury trial and agree to allow the judge to determine sentence in the event they fail to pass drug court treatment requirements.

Morris faces charges of second degree burglary and first degree theft for the Feb. 14, 2012, break-in of the Pullman Grange Supply, now Four Star Supply.

He was arrested by Pullman Police early the next morning after residents of the State Street area reported a trespasser. The Pullman Police report said they located Morris’ car stuck in gravel a block away. A bolt cutter found in the car led them to link Morris with a break-in and theft of cash from the manager’s office.

Le Beau Friday said the Jan. 18 urine analysis from Morris tested positive for marijuana, and an April 19 analysis tested positive for amphetamines. Le Beau said follow-up checks revealed Morris subsequently failed to mention the UA test failures to his counselor.

Next review for Morris was slated for July 19.

BILDERBACK INTERVIEW

RULING

A portion of a jail interview with Bobby J. Bilderback, Malden resident who faces a drug homicide charge related to the death of Donavin Stapert, was ordered suppressed Friday morning in superior court. Judge David Frazier said his review of the record and transcript indicated Bilderback began to complain of pain as the interview continued.

The interview was conducted by Sheriff Brett Myers and Sgt. Chris Chapman March 25 in the jail at Missoula where Bilderback had been arrested. The sheriff and Sgt. Chapman went to Missoula to question the suspect.

The judge ruled Bilderback had properly been advised of his rights at the start of the interview and ruled that 21 pages and 13 lines of the transcript can be used as evidence. At that point, the judge said, Bilderback’s complaints of pain reached the point where the interview became involuntary. He granted the defense motion to suppress the interview record at that point.

Bilderback later waived his extradition rights and has been in jail here.

LAZCANO TRIAL REMAINS HERE

Superior Court Judge David Frazier May 16 ruled the second trial of Daniel Lazcano will remain in Whitman County at least until attempts are made to seat an impartial jury. The judge said he recognized many areas of concern in picking a panel of impartial jurors, but said he’ll wait until the court examines potential jurors to see what they have to say.

The ruling was made after a motion for a change of venue was filed by Lazcano’s defense attorneys Monday. The motion contained a 59-page overview listing of television and press coverage of the murder investigation and trials related to the shooting of Marcus Schur of Rosalia Dec. 27, 2011, at Malden.

The judge said he felt it was important to have a backup plan in the event the court was unable to seat a panel of unbiased jurors. He added Spokane and Asotin counties probably will not work because residents there saw the same television reports listed in the defense summary. Defense attorney Eric Christianson of Spokane suggested Douglas County could be a possible location.

Christianson also reported the defense has hired a ballistics expert in Newport and requested arrangement be made for the expert to examine bullet fragments which were taken from Schur. The bullet fragments are now in two plastic bags and are listed as state’s evidence in the case.

The second trial for Daniel Lazcano, who attended the hearing, is scheduled to start May 28.

WINKLER CREWS RETURN

A crew from W.M. Winkler, Spokane, May 16, replaced the curb and paving which was installed along Main Street during last summer’s Highway 195 project. The curb and paving were installed where the former railroad crossing was removed from S. Main during the construction project.

Crews were asked to install the curb as an add-on for the original contract after the state decided to pull out the tracks at the crossing. The curb installation raised objections from residents of the River View Apartments because it cut access from Main Street to the parking spaces in front of the apartments. Residents were required to drive into the alley behind the apartments and around the south end of the building to get to the front parking spaces.

A concrete entry will be installed at the site. Winkler was assigned the project as a sub-contractor for Central Washington Asphalt, the general contractor for the 195 job.

FIFTH ARREST IN WARNER CASE

Pullman Police May 14 reported the arrest of Lawrence John McDonald, 31, Pullman as a fifth suspect in the David Warner assault case at Adams Mall in the early morning hours of March 30. Warner is the WSU faculty member who sustained critical head injuries when he was knocked down while attempting to quell a dispute.

Four suspects were arrested after they were identified from surveillance videos which were released by police after the assault. McDonald was identified in arrest reports as standing with Warner before the assault, appearing to be intoxicated and making comments to people walking in the area. The May 14 report also alleged McDonald attempted to throw a punch at one of the first four suspects, Robert Bean, after a confrontation evolved.

The report from Pullman Chief Gary Jenkins said McDonald was arrested May 9 at 3:30 p.m. on probable charges of attempted fourth degree assault and disorderly conduct. He was subsequently allowed release. The report said McDonald was arrested after being re-interviewed by Pullman police.

The report said McDonald, Warner and a third person had all been drinking at two taverns in Pullman and walked to the mall. McDon ald was making harassing comments to people in the parking lot and challenging people to fight him, the report said. It added he made an insulting comment to Madeline A. Fouts when she exited Adams Mall and made a similar comment to Robert A. Bean when he and two others exited the mall where they had been drinking at Stubblefield’s. Witnesses said Warner at that time was trying to calm McDonald.

The four from Stubblefield’s walked past McDonald. Then Fouts walked back toward McDonald and Bean and two others followed. The two other suspects were identified as Joshua Nantz, and John (Matt) Cabanos-Soriano.

Chief Jenkins said the department now is waiting for a medical report to determine if Warner’s injuries were sustained from hitting his head as he fell or from a punch thrown by a suspect.