Bulletin column - Dec. 16, 2010

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.

Zero work hours nets jail

Amy A. Baird, 39, Oakesdale, was ordered to serve 30 more days in jail Monday after the court determined she had not done any community service time to meet requirements from a June 4 sentencing. Baird, who was arrested on a warrant late Friday for failing to appear at a compliance hearing Dec. 3, was remanded to the custody of the jail.

Baird was sentenced June 4 to 45 days in jail with the option of converting 30 of the days to community service work hours at the rate of eight hours per one day of jail. The Dec. 3 hearing had been scheduled to determine whether or not she had complied with the sentence.

The court Monday determined she had not done any of the required public service work and ordered her to serve the 30 days in jail. Baird was charged after a warrant search of her Oakesdale residence last January led to discovery of methamphetamine.

Baird was initially also charged with possession of stolen property and drug paraphernalia, but those charges were dropped as part of a plea bargain agreement last June. Those charges were related to a string of arrests of other suspects involved in drug use and possession of stolen property in the Oakesdale area.

Meats vendor arrested on warrant

Daniel C. Schwehr, 21, Kennewick resident who was reportedly making door-to-door stops to sell for Yummy Meats, was arrested in the Crestview area of Colfax Monday on two warrants issued by Benton County District Court. Colfax Officer Perry Tate said a resident had called and inquired if the two vendors for the meats company had obtained a city permit. Tate determined the duo had not applied for a vendors license. In running a records check on Schwehr he discovered the Kennewick resident was wanted in Benton County for failing to obey district court orders on cases dealing with hit and run of an unattended vehicle, driving with a suspended license and business license violations.

Allege parking lot assault

Joshua Graham, 32, Keawehelu, Hawaii, was booked into the county jail on Saturday on probable charges of robbery, assault and malicious mischief. The police report filed with the arrest alleges Graham assaulted his ex girlfriend in the parking lot of Chinook Apartments. The report said he took away her purse, digital camera and portable phone. It alleged he took the memory chip out of the camera and then stomped on it.

The report alleged Graham wore a disguise when he confronted the alleged victim. It said the two had a relationship, but when he came to Pullman from Hawaii to visit her he discovered she was seeing another man. Bond for pre-trail release was set at $50,000 in a first appearance in court Monday. Graham was also ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim.

Weather takes toll on roads

Arrival of warm temperatures and rain over the weekend softened roads around the county. The county’s Public Works Department suspended issuing load hauling permits on roads in the northeast section of the county. Black Road, Oakesdale Road, Thorn Creek Road, Seabury/Fairbanks and L.D. Johnson roads have all been closed for load permits until further notice. Permits are required for any load more than 19,560 pounds.

Public Works Director Mark Storey said he expects the shutdown to be short term. He noted most roads in the county have been holding up well, but in some cases damage was observed on roads where hauling had been done after conditions had softened up.

Driver hurt near state line

Curtis J. Klep, 20, Marysville, sustained a bump on the head when he lost control of a 1997 Jeep Cherokee just west of the state line south of Uniontown Saturday night. According to the Washington State Patrol report, he was driving north at 7:10 p.m. in snow and slush conditions. The Cherokee went off the right side of the roadway and rolled on its top.

St. John woman sentenced

Hayley Blumenshein, 20, St. John, was sentenced to 90 days Friday after she entered an Alford plea a week earlier on a charge of taking a diamond wedding ring from a St. John residence. Judge David Frazier allowed Blumenshein to convert 30 days of the sentence to community service work.

The option will allow Blumenshein to attend a hair design school in Lewiston with the aim of obtaining a trade so she can support herself.

Blumenshein had already served a week in jail after her plea and with good time credits should be released in time to start the course on the third week of January. The community service work will be credited at eight hours for one day in jail.

The ring was discovered missing last August from a jewelry box by a St. John resident. Informants in St. John told deputies they had seen Blumenshein wearing the ring on a pinkie finger. She also was reported to be heard saying the missing ring would never be found.

Chief Deputy Prosecutor Byron Bedirian told the court the ring, which has not been recovered, was initially valued in the $9,000 range. A restitution hearing will be conducted to set the value. Blumenshein was also ordered Friday to pay fines and fees of $800.

Judge Frazier pointed out the ring theft was the second felony conviction for Blumenshein. Any additional conviction could lead to a prison sentence.

As part of a plea bargain agreement, a forgery charge was dismissed. Blumenshein had been charged with forging a report on community service hours she had been assigned to complete as part of her first conviction.