Bulletin Column May 18

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.

Rosalia CHECKS CORRECTIONS

Accounts in the Bulletin and Gazette last week about the arrest of Karen Beatty of Rosalia on probable charges of first degree theft incorrectly reported the alleged victim in the case was Mrs. Beatty’s mother.

The victim is the mother of family members who noticed the alleged discrepancy in the checks in their mother’s checking account.

Their mother had been residing at the Beatty home under a care agreement.

The arrest account also said Mrs. Beatty told deputies she had used checks from that account for gambling at Northern Quest Casino. The Gazette incorrectly implied that Mrs. Beatty’s spouse had been using the funds for gambling because it used a “he” instead of a “she” in the sentence which reported the alleged admissions by Mrs. Beatty.

During the interviews, Mrs. Beatty told deputies her husband had nothing to do with writing the checks.

Her spouse told the Gazette in a call May 11 that he does not gamble and had not been aware of the checks involved in the charges against his wife.

The Gazette apologizes for the mistakes made in the story last week.

ST. IGNATIUS ON SALE BLOCK Colfax Mayor Todd Vanek informed city council members Monday night that the former St. Ignatius Hospital building is in the process of being sold.

Vanek said that a sale of the building by owner Anthony Girges of Bellflower, Calif., was in the works.

He said, however, it was his understanding last Friday was the date for closing the sale and the city has not received an update.

The mayor made the report after being questioned by Councilwoman Sarah McKnight about the city’s response to efforts by the Colfax Downtown Association to regain access to the structure.

St. Ignatius, which has been a source of revenue for the association from ghost tours, has been posted as a hazard by the city.

Vanek Monday night explained the city’s action to post the building as a hazard was a matter between the city and Girges.

He views the association’s efforts to get access to the building as a matter between the association and Girges.

The association has conducted tours of the building under an agreement with Girges which calls for some of the tour proceeds to go to Girges.

Vanek noted if the sale of the building has been concluded, the whole situation could change.

SUSPECT FOUND NEXT TO CREEK

A Lewiston suspect who early Saturday morning ran from the scene of an arrest south of Colfax and was later located along a creek in the Prune Orchard area, was ordered held without bail Monday morning in a first appearance in superior court. The suspect, Charles R. Walters, 35, was booked into jail at 3:30 a.m.

According to the arrest report by Sheriff’s Sgt.

Chris Chapman, Walters was a passenger in a vehicle which was initially stopped in the area of Bennett Road on 195 south of Colfax 50 minutes after midnight.

The report alleges the car was later determined to have been reported stolen.

It said when Walters was asked to get out of the vehicle he grabbed a backpack and ran south toward the Prune Orchard area.

After a search of approximately 40 minutes, he was found prone next to a stream in the neighborhood.

The yellow backpack was found next to a garage.

Two loaded guns were found in the pack, according to the report. He was arrested on probable charges of taking a motor vehicle, possession of heroin and methamphetamine, possession of a stolen firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm and obstructing an officer.

Bond amount for Amy M. Johnson, 23, Chapin, S.C., said to be driver of the car, was set at $10,000.

She was booked on a probable charge of possession of a stolen vehicle.

LATE BLOOMER REPORT

Representing the Colfax Late Bloomers, Cherry Alice Van Tine reported to the city council Monday night that the group plans to install a bird bath in Codger Pole Park.

She said a granite bench has also been donated for installation at the park and will be installed by Garlinghouse Memorial.

Van Tine said the Bloomers are attempting to locate a volunteer to repaint the sign board located at the back of the park.

Also, she commended the city for enforcing cleanup of a residence adjoining Good Park along the Highway 195 entrance to the south end of town.

‘SKIP’ BARTLETT DIES Word was received here Monday of the death Feb. 5, 2017, of Merrill L. (Skip) Bartlett, 77, a member of the Colfax High School class of 1957 who served in the U.S. Marine Corps, including duty in Vietnam, and retired as a lieutenant colonel.

One of his final assignments in the Marines was serving as an naval history instructor at the Naval Academy in Annapolis.

Mr. Bartlett made his retirement home on Vashon Island.

A funeral service was not conducted in accordance with his request.

He was born April 8, 1939, to Lewis (Mickey) and Amelia Bartlett.

The Bartletts for many years operated the Korner Koffee Kup Café at the junction of Highways 26 and 195 in north Colfax.

After graduating from high school here, he attended Washington State University and graduated in 1963 with a degree in pharmacy.

He was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.

A naval historian, he authored or co-authored seven books and wrote more than 125 articles for the Naval Institute Press and other historical journals.

On Vashon Island he served as secretary for Boy Scout Troop 294 and led scout crews to usher at U of W home football games.

He was also president of the Vashon Island Raccoon Relocation Society.

Survivors include his wife, Blythe; a son, Brendan; a daughter, Blythe Deines; stepson, Doug Hershey, and four grandchildren.

Memorial donations can be made to the Navy-Marine Aid Society.

http://www.nbmcrs.org

CITY TO GET CHECK FOR SQUAD CAR

Colfax City Finance Director Chris Mathis reported to the city council Monday night that the city expects to receive a check this week from the company which insured the vehicle that collided with a Colfax Police squad car at the intersection of Airport Road and Highway 26 on the afternoon of May 5.

The city’s 2013 Ford Interceptor was totaled when it was struck by a car driven by Gayathri Krismanoorthy, 21, Pullman, who was not licensed and reported to be taking a driving lesson when she collided with the city squad car.

Mathis said the man who was giving the driving lesson had insurance coverage on his vehicle, and the city was informed it will receive payment for loss of the Interceptor squad car.

Police Chief Rick McNannay said standard police procedure by Officer Joe Handley probably avoided what could have been serious injuries.

Handley had stopped the Colfax car on Airport Road behind another vehicle which was waiting to pull onto the highway.

He allowed a full car-length space between the two cars which allows patrol cars to pull out of a line of cars in the event a vehicle stalls in front of them.

The one-length gap meant the car driven by Krismanoorthy hit the front quarter of the squad car.

McNannay said if Handley had not allowed the standard gap, the collision would have been a straight T impact on the left door of the squad car.

Krismanoorthy reportedly was reluctant to apply the brakes as she attempted to turn right off Highway 26 in the rain storm which hit at the time of the collision.

LAWRENCE SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS

Lewis Lawrence, 28, the former Pullman resident who was returned to jail here for a second trial on charges of attempted murder, was sentenced to 20 years in prison May 10 in superior court. Lawrence had been returned to jail here after the state’s Division III Appeals court in Spokane ruled he was mentally incompetent to undergo trial here in 2010.

He pleaded guilty March 17 to two charges of attempted murder and a new charge of assaulting another inmate after he was returned to jail here.

Prosecutor Denis Tracy had urged the court to sentence Lawrence to a total of 25 years.

Under a plea bargain agreement, Tracy dropped one of the attempted murder charges and three of four new charges which were filed against Lawrence since he was returned to jail here.

The attempted murder cases date back to March 17, 2009, when Lawrence was charged with discharging a shotgun into an apartment occupied by Michael and Yuteson Fuaau.

Testimony at Lawrence’s trial here in 2010 included a report that Lawrence had become upset that he had been asked to bring a bag of rice to a group dinner which the Fuaau brothers planned to prepare at their apartment.

Court appearances after his 2009 arrest sometimes included outbursts by Lawrence, and he eventually wound up representing himself during trial.

Judge William Acey of Asotin County presided at the trial after Judge David Frazier stepped aside.

After the jury convicted Lawrence, Judge Acey sentenced Lawrence to a total of 75 years (900 months) on the three convictions for attempted murder.

A year ago, Adam County Judge Steven Dixon ruled Lawrence was not competent when he waived his right to an attorney and opted to represent himself at trial.

Judge Dixon’s ruling came after a rare referral mandate was sent to the court here from the state Supreme Court. It asked the court to review Lawrence’s decision to go to trial without an attorney prior to the 2010 trial and report its finding to the Division III court in Spokane where Lawrence’s petition for a new trial was pending.

In addition to the 20-year sentence, Lawrence was ordered to be placed on probation for three years after his release.

He was ordered to have no contact with the Fuaau brothers and to pay $2,000 in restitution to Yuteson Fuaau.

A warrant of commitment filed with the state Department of Corrections credited Lawrence with the 217 days served in jail here after he was returned from state custody after the appeals ruling.

FUAAU BROTHERS ON RECORD

Accounts from Michael and Yuteson Fuaau, alleged victims in the Lewis Lawrence convictions for attempted murder, were included in the sentencing record for Lawrence filed with the court. Lawrence, now 28, was sentenced May 10 to 20 years in prison.

Both of the Fuaaus requested the court to put Lawrence in prison for life for the damages they have sustained as result of the shooting.

Lawrence was convicted of discharging a shotgun into the Fuaau apartment in Pullman March 17, 2009, exactly eight years before Lawrence entered guilty pleas to conclude a case which involved a 2010 conviction of Lawrence by a jury here and a round of appeals that ended an order for a new trial.

Lawrence opted to plead guilty to two of the attempted murder charges and an assault charge filed against him since he was returned to the jail here.

Michael Fuaau in his report to the court said he continues to suffer from migraine headaches caused by the wound to his head from the blast.

He said he has more than 100 shotgun pellets still imbedded in his head as a result of the blast.

Michael Fuaau’s account explained he suffers from depression.

He recommended the court should lock Lawrence “up for good and throw away the key.” Yuteson Fuaau said it was hard to understand why Lawrence decided to blast a shotgun into their residence after “all we did for this kid.” He pointed out the loss of thousands of dollars for treatments for the injuries sustained by Michael.

Both Fuaaus said they had trouble comprehending the attention and publicity Lawrence received as his case moved through the state court system while they have had to deal with the results of his actions over the past eight years.

The 20-year sentence Lawrence received on amended charges compares with a 75-year sentence he received in 2010 after his conviction.