John Lee warrant now in hand

The governor’s extradition warrant, which had not arrived in time for the Feb. 17 extradition hearing of John Lee, is now in hand at the prosecutor’s office. Prosecutor Denis Tracy said he believes the warrant arrived here about eight days after he was informed by a member of Gov. Inslee’s staff that the warrant had been sent.

Lee, 29, is wanted in Latah County where he faces three murder charges and one attempted murder charge in Moscow. He was arrested Jan. 10 near Steptoe after a high speed police chase from Pullman.

Absence of the governor’s extradition warrant at the Feb. 17 hearing led to a continuance of the extradition session to March 6. The warrant is required because Lee has declined to waive his extradition right.

Lee is being held in the jail here on a $500,000 bond on a Whitman County charge of attempting to elude.

Prosecutor Tracy said he hopes to resolve the Whitman County charge before Lee is transferred to Moscow. He noted Lee’s trial date on the Whitman County charge is March 16.

Since Lee has been in jail here he has undergone a series of psychological examinations which were approved by the court. Noting Lee’s psychological state is crucial for his defense in court, Defense Attorney Steve Martonick applied for a court order Jan. 16. The court found Lee was indigent and allowed up to $2,000 for the examinations to be conducted by Dr. Greg Wilson of Pullman.

According to a billing summary filed Friday with the $2,000 payment order, the first session was Jan. 22, 12 days after Lee was arrested and jailed. The sixth and final session was Feb. 18.

Friday’s court order requires the Department of Social and Health Services to pay $2,000 for the sessions as authorized in the Jan. 16 order. Total billing for the six sessions was $3,500.