Briefs: July 20, 2017

KIMBALL

SENTENCED TO 15 MONTHS

Keith A. Kimball, 50, former Garfield resident, was sentenced to 15 months Friday after a jury last Wednesday convicted him of three counts of domestic violence by violating a protection order. The jury verdict ended a one-day trial.

Kimball was charged with one violation of the protection order in January and two in February. Lone witness to testify at the trial was the victim, Kimball’s ex-spouse.

Kimball was sentenced to 15 months on each of the violations with the terms to run concurrently. He was assigned an offender score of three because of prior convictions of violating the protection order.

The investigation report alleged Kimball, who was residing in Kent, made statements in text messages which violated terms of the protection order.

Kimball was sentenced to eight months in jail by Adams County Judge Steve Dixon in October of 2015 on similar charges of violating the protection order. The state at that time sought a one-year sentence because of a series of alleged violations. Judge Dixon at the time said he believed a mental health factor was involved in the case.

Kimball Friday was determined to be indigent, so records of the trial will be provided at public expense in the event of an appeal.

TRIAL DATE SET FOR ROSALIAN

Karen V. Beatty, 66, Rosalia, was scheduled for a Sept. 11 trial after she pleaded not guilty Friday in Whitman County Superior Court to a charge of first degree theft. Beatty was formally charged June 16.

The investigation report alleges Beatty took more than $12,000 in funds from the checking account of a Rosalia woman who had resided at the Beatty home under a care agreement. Time span for the thefts was cited as between Oct. 1, 2016, and April 30 of this year. The report alleged Beatty wrote the checks on the woman’s account because of a gambling addiction.

ISAACS

REMANDED

TO JAIL

Benjamin Isaacs, 31, St. John, pleaded guilty in Superior Court Friday to charges of dealing in child pornography and was remanded to the custody of the sheriff. A sentencing date was scheduled for Aug. 10. The judge also ordered a pre-sentence investigation.

The charge against Isaacs was filed July 6. Investigation of the case began Nov. 15 when Moscow Police Officer Eric Kjorness noted a participant in an internet child pornography sharing site had an internet protocol listing for a computer at St. John. The investigation led to a search warrant and seizing of evidence at the St. John residence three days later.

Isaacs had been summoned to court next week, but his arraignment was moved up to Friday on a motion by his attorney Mark Mosman of Moscow.

Mosman told the court today negotiation in the case has been underway since last December, and Isaacs decided to enter a guilty plea without going to trial.

PRIMARY

BALLOT TALLY: 17,571

Total count on the mail-out of ballots for the Aug. 1 primary Friday is 17,571, according to a report from the elections office.

Deadline for return of the ballots by mail will be an Aug. 1 postmark date. The auditor’s office also has five ballot collection boxes, and they will remain open until the official 8 p.m. time for closing the polls on election night.

GALLEGOS BOOKED

ON CITY

ARREST

Eli Gallegos, Colfax, was booked into the county jail July 11 on probable charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and domestic violence. Gallegos, who was arrested by Colfax police, was released on his own recognizance the next day.

Friday Gallegos appeared in court and was scheduled for Aug. 21 trials on the two Superior Court cases. A readiness hearing was scheduled for Aug. 11.

Gallegos faces charges in superior court of trafficking of stolen property and residential burglary.

The Friday scheduling session was set after he failed to appear in court June 2 for a readiness hearing. A warrant was ordered for his arrest, but it was withdrawn when his attorney contacted the court and requested a continuance.