Three arrested in burglary

FARMINGTON — Three people were arrested on charges of alleged burglary on Tuesday, Oct. 15, on Garfield-Farmington Road.

According to public records, at approximately 6:11 p.m., on Tuesday, Whitman County Sheriff’s Deputy Amy Pilloud responded to a burglary at Garfield-Farmington Road.

Gary Wayne French, 62, of Spokane, Eric James Harris, 55, of Spokane and Melissa Ann Marie Pagel, 44, of Farmington, were arrested after Pagel admitted to having methamphetamine on her person.

According to Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers, the suspects allegedly claimed they knew someone that used to live on the property.

“Basically the woman who owns the property had cameras up and didn’t recognize them,” Myers said.

According to Myers, the shop doors were open and the door had been kicked open. Pagel then admitted to having methamphetamine on her person.

The three suspects were taken into custody and booked into Whitman County Jail at approximately 6:30 p.m

French and Harris were booked on two counts of second-degree burglary and were arraigned in Whitman County Superior Court on Friday, Oct. 18.

French and Harris both pleading not guilty to the charges.

Whitman County Superior Court Judge Gary Libey granted Attorney Roger Sandberg’s recommendation to reduce French’s bail from $10 to zero and he was released on his own recognizance.

French has a trial date set for January 2025.

Harris had a one-on-one with Attorney Steve Martonick asking for a reduction of bail to $500, as it was considered more affordable to Harris.

Libey took Prosecuting Attorney Denis Tracy’s recommendation to keep Harris in jail due to past criminal history.

Harris is held on a $1,500 cash bail through Superior Court and has a trial date set for December.

Pagel is held on a $1,500 cash bail for two counts of burglary second-degree and knowingly possessing a controlled substance (meth).