News Briefs: Dec. 20, 2018

CONVICTION IN 2015 CASE

April Alice Byer, 30, Moscow, was sentenced to 45 days in jail Friday morning in Whitman County Superior Court after she pleaded guilty to a charge of harassment with a threat to kill. The charges actually dated back to June of 2015.

Byer was charged after she went into the DRA Real Estate office in Pullman and made threats to kill three women who were working in the office at the time. The outburst happened after she was presented with an eviction notice for failing to pay back rent. Senior Deputy Prosecutor Dan LeBeau told the court the women in the office believed Byer’s outburst exceeded what they normally experience in the office, and they actually feared Byers after she made the threats.

LeBeau said the victims declined to appear in court Friday because they still fear Byer.

Byer’s defense attorney said after she received the eviction notice she moved to California with her fiance. She said when Byer departed she was not aware that charges had been filed against her. She has since moved back and is now residing in Moscow with a relative.

She added that Byer also faces a charge in Idaho.

After ordering the 45-day sentence, Judge Gary Libey provided Byer with a one day furlough from jail to keep a long-standing medical appointment.

CAR SHOOTER SENTENCED

Tylor J. Wilson, 25, the Pullman man who was convicted of assault and three charges of malicious mischief after a one-day trial Dec. 10 in superior court, was sentenced to 364 days in jail Dec. 12. Wilson was convicted of shooting a BB gun which shattered the driver’s side window of a Volkswagen Beetle being driven on NE Maple Street in Pullman Oct. 11.

The driver of the Volkswagen reported she felt a stinging sensation on her face right after the window of the car was shattered.The 364-day sentence was the maximum sentence Wilson could have faced on each of the malicious mischief convictions, but he was sentenced to lesser time on the other three convictions which will run concurrent to the 364.

Judge Gary Libey also ordered Wilson to not possess firearms, including BB guns, and undergo a mental health evaluation. A court date was set for Oct. 16 of next year to see if he has complied with the court’s order.

Wilson was also ordered to pay $201 restitution to the driver of the Volkswagen and $695 for window and door repairs to a Jeep Wrangler which was also hit by BB shots.

Defense Attorney Steve Martonick filed a notice of intent to appeal the conviction after the sentencing.

QUAD ARREST NETS 8.8 OUNCES OF METH

Sheriff Brett Myers, commander of the Quad Cities Drug Task Force, Dec. 13 issued a report of two related arrests Dec. 11 in Clarkston which led to confiscation of more than half a pound of methamphetamine in Asotin County.

After an extended investigation, task force members served a warrant on a residence in the 1300 Block of 15th Street in Clarkston and seized approximately 136 grams of methamphetamine, a smoking pipe, three digital scales, packaging materials and $375 cash. Roberta Jones, 44, was booked into the Asotin County jail on a probable charge of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver.

The report said while members of the task force were preparing to serve the warrant, a vehicle belonging to Jones was seen departing the residence. An Asotin County Deputy stopped the vehicle and later obtained a warrant to search it. They allegedly found 116 grams of methamphetamine in the vehicle, along with $2,520 in cash.

Timothy Torrez, 50, was subsequently booked into Asotin County jail on a probable charge of possession of methamphetamine with an intent to deliver.