Bulletin: Feb. 22, 2018

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.

SLOUGH SUSPECT SENT TO PRISION

Ricky J. Bakko, 43, Granite Falls, who was arrested at Webb's Slough last Aug. 26 for exposing himself and threatening others with a pistol, was sentenced to 29 months in prison Friday after he pleaded guilty in superior court to three charges of second-degree assault and one charge of third-degree assault. Bakko pleaded guilty to the charges under a plea bargain agreement.

He originally faced four charges of second degree assault with firearm enhancement and two charges of indecent exposure.

Bakko was arrested in the camping area of the slough during the Aug. 26 races after deputies received a report at about 3 p.m. According to the arrest report, Bakko had exposed himself to other campers and a scuffle followed when he was told to desist. The report said Bakko went into his camper, came out with a pistol and threatened others at the scene. Some campers ran.

In one instance, Bakko held the pistol to the head of one of the male campers. The victim told deputies he had worked as a bouncer and decided to attempt to talk Bakko out of the situation.

When the first deputy arrived at the scene Bakko and the victim were sitting in camp chairs. The victim told the deputy he had taken possession of the pistol and placed it in his father's camper.

Bakko at one time had been scheduled for a Dec. 11 trial after pleading not guilty to the original six charges.

In addition to the prison term, he was ordered to have no contact with four listed victims for 10 years. He also forfeited ownership of the pistol, which had been held as evidence, to the sheriff for disposal.

Bakko was ordered to pay $800 in fines and fees. Payment will be deducted from the bail he posted for pre-trial release.

INMATE TAKES OWN LIFE

Dr. Dean Funabiki, 68, Pullman psychologist who was arrested and jailed Friday on a charge of second-degree rape, was found dead in his cell Sunday night. Funabiki, who was housed by himself in a cell, had used a sheet to hang himself from a bed frame in the cell.

He was discovered at about 11:30 p.m. when jailers were making their hourly rounds to check on prisoners, according the Sheriff Brett Myers.

Funabiki was housed with the jail's general population and was not under a suicide watch.

According to a report Friday by Pullman Police Chief Gary Jenkins, Dr. Funabiki, accompanied by his attorney, surrendered to Pullman Police at about 10:30 p.m. Friday, and he was arrested on a probable charge of second-degree rape and later transferred to the county jail after being booked at Pullman.

The alleged assault took place during a therapy session in January. The alleged victim was a Pullman woman in her 40s.

Chief Jenkins reported evidence in the case was sent to the Washington State Patrol crime lab for analysis, and the finding positively matched Dr. Funabiki's DNA to swabs collected from the victim.

A charge of rape in the second degree includes cases where the perpetrator is a health care provider and the alleged victim is a patient who was in treatment at the time, Jenkins reported.

COURTHOUSE E-MAIL DOWN

A failed firewall server shut down the email system at the Whitman County courthouse. Commissioner Art Swannack Saturday morning said all incoming and outgoing email must flow through the server which has to be replaced.

The county expected to get delivery of a new server sometime Tuesday between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. After delivery, the server will have to be configured and tested before email service can resume.

HIGH BAIL REMAINS FOR LEONARD

A $250,000 bail for pre-trial release of Marquise Leonard, 22, Pullman, was ordered to remain in place Friday morning in superior court after the defendant petitioned for a reduction to $50,000. This is the third time Leonard's bail has been brought before the court.

Leonard has been scheduled for an April 2 trial after he pleaded not guilty last week to charges of first degree burglary involving a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Leonard presented two letters of reference on his character to the court.

The state argued for the bail to be kept in place by noting the charges involve allegations that Leonard actually pointed a pistol at two of the alleged victims in the case and a loaded shotgun was found in a bench when officers searched Leonard's residence.

Leonard allegedly made the threats because he believed the victims were showing gang colors because they had bandanas hanging out of their back pockets, according to the report.

Judge Gary Libey, noting Leonard faces up to 14 years in prison if convicted of the charges, said he wanted to leave the high bail in place out of concern for public safety. The potential for a long sentence could result in the defendant jumping bail in the event it was reduced to the level requested by Leonard, he pointed out.

CHANGE OF LIFESTYLE

Alexander Keen, Jr., 24, Moscow, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of solicitation to possess cocaine Friday morning in superior court. Keen was sentenced to 12 days with the option of working off the time with 100 hours of community service. Keen was originally charged with possession of cocaine and malicious mischief in the second degree.

According to the Pullman Police report, Keen's roommates called police to report he had returned to their apartment intoxicated and couldn't be controlled. They said they had locked Keen in his room and he began to batter the door to get out. The report said debris from the door and broken glass were found at the apartment.

The cocaine in the case was found in Keen's wallet after he was arrested and searched.

Defense attorney Michael Pettit said Keen has paid for replacing the damaged door.

Keen told the court Friday he has changed his life around. He said the drinking was part of a fraternity experience which he has since abandoned. He has dropped out of studies at WSU, moved to Moscow and is employed at Bennett Lumber in Harvard.

FALL VICTIM OUT OF HOSPITAL

A man who was taken to Spokane after falling at a grain facility at Steptoe late Feb. 12 was subsequently released from the hospital at Spokane after he was checked over that night.

The worker fell an estimated to 20 to 25 feet at the Hinrichs facility at Steptoe.

He was taken by Colfax Ambulance to the Steptoe School ball field to be loaded on a Life Flight helicopter. Tuesday's Bulletin account said he was flown to Sacred Heart by helicopter, but the helicopter was unable to fly, and he was taken up to Spokane by ambulance.

CORONER’S ACCIDENT FINDING

County Coroner Peter Martin Feb.14 issued a cause of death finding on the man who died Feb. 9 in a head-on collision on Highway 195 south of Pullman. Martin said Fernando Reyes Plascencia, 28, Spokane Valley died of massive head, chest and extremity injuries sustained in the collision. He was the driver of a 2001 Suzuki Swift that went out of control, crossed the highway and collided with a truck and trailer in the southbound lane. Manner of death was determined to be accidental.

A passenger in the Suzuki, Javier Torres Rios, 32, was extricated from the wrecked car and flown by helicopter to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane where he died Feb. 11 . The Spokane Medical Examiner notified family members of his death. Both victims were from the Spokane Valley.

Derek Cocking, 28, Colfax, driver of the truck, was not injured in the collision, according to the Washington State Patrol report.

HEATER PLUG CAUSED FIRE

Pullman Fire Marshal Chris Wehrung Feb. 14 reported the fire that heavily damaged a building on NW Stadium Way in Pullman Feb. 9 started at an electrical plug connected to a space heater. The fire was ruled an accident.

He said the occupant helped investigators by showing them pictures of what the living room looked like prior to the fire.

Wehrung said that although the building is now uninhabitable it can be repaired. City building inspector Greg Colvig said the city gives the owner the option of repairing or demolishing. They must secure the building with plywood and then work with a contractor on the repairs.

Colvig estimated the damage at around $80,000, but that may change after the owner meets with an insurance adjustor.

The apartment building was owner occupied and there was some confusion at the scene whether it was a triplex or a fourplex apartment. Wehrung said there were two apartments on the bottom floor and one apartment upstairs. What led to the confusion was the owner occupied the upstairs apartment and also had two other people staying in that apartment.

American Red Cross is still taking care of two of the residents at a local hotel; the other occupants are still staying with friends. He said he has had other apartment companies call him and say that they could house the residents and for the same rent they were paying in the triplex.