Bulletin Column

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.

NEW

BILDERBACK CASE STALLS

The new case against Bobby Bilderback of Malden has been placed on hold because the alleged victim has stopped cooperating with the sheriff's office investigation. Prosecutor Denis Tracy, in a statement issued May 16, said without the man's cooperation charges against Bilderback cannot be pursued at this time.

Tracy's statement said charges could not be filed as of May 16 but if circumstances change Bilderback may be formally charged and prosecuted.

May 16 was the last day the prosecutor could file charges under the court rule, which requires the state to file formal charges within 72 hours of an arrest.

An order of exoneration of pre-trial release conditions was filed by the court May 16. In addition to the $250,000 surety bail requirement, Bilderback had been ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim.

Bilderback posted $25,000 cash bail before the May 16 exoneration order.

The episode began 1:49 p.m. last Sunday, May 13, when deputies responded to request for a welfare check of a man who was found on Wells Road at John Fyke Road north of Malden. The 28-year old male said he had managed to leave Bilderback's house where he had been staying for approximately two weeks. The report by Sgt. Keith Cooper said the man was reluctant to talk and at times began crying as he described how he allegedly he had been physically and sexually assaulted at the Bilderback residence on Birch Street in Malden.

The alleged victim had scratches on his neck and showed Cooper a front tooth which he said Bilderback had broken when he hit him.

Sgt. Miller and two deputies went to Bilderback's residence to arrest him.

Bilderback in August of 2013 was sentenced to 68 months in prison for the drug overdose homicide of Donivan Stapert, 17, Malden. He was released by the state early on that conviction. He was sentenced to 13 months in prison last April 21 on convictions for third-degree assault and possession of methamphetamine.

The alleged victim in the Sunday arrest said Bilderback threatened to kill him and told him he had been convicted of murder.

The alleged victim told deputies he had met Bilderback on Facebook and was taken to Malden by a Spokane resident. He said when he told others he planned to visit Bilderback's residence, they told him to be careful.

Bilderback returned to court Friday morning to settle a compliance order, which had been on the books since his 2013 conviction in the Donavin Stapert death case. A warrant had been issued for Bilderback's arrest last week for unpaid fines, fees and restitution due on the 2013 conviction.

Bilderback posted a $3,800 bond on the pending 2013 case.

The sum due in the 2013 case will be paid out of the $3,800 bond and the $25,000 bond posted following the Sunday arrest will be returned. Bilderback told the court the bonds were posted by his father.

He was unable to pay the sum due in the 2013 case because he was incarcerated.

CITY OPTS

FOR CODGER SIGN PAINT

Colfax City Council Monday night approved a park board recommendation to paint the sign in the back corner of Codger Pole Park. Councilman Blaine Golden reported park board members checked out the condition of the sign and decided it could still be restored with a proper paint job.

Golden noted the sign has some historic value because it was also carved by Jonathon LeBenne, the same wood sculptor who carved the Codger Pole.

At the previous council session, representatives of the Late Bloomers, the Colfax garden club which has restored the planting areas around the pole, requested the city support a plan to replace the wooden sign with a stone monument, which would be a copy of the wooden sign. Cost quote on the monument was $3,836.

City council members at that time suggested the costs could be paid out of revenue from the motel surtax fund which generates funds for tourism-related projects. The sign had been on the agenda for painting last year, but that plan was derailed because the city was unable to locate a painter to do the job.

Funding for painting the sign is already in the budget for this year.

The park board also discussed the possible addition of some type of collection box at Codger Pole Park to receive donations from visitors. Proceeds from the box would be used to offset some of the upkeep costs, which are now paid by members of the Late Bloomers group for plants and other expenses, Golden said.

At the prior meeting, members of the group described the number of out-of-town visitors who stop to view the pole while they are working at the site.

DUI FELONY ARREST

Christian Cross, 47, was booked into jail here Monday on a probable charge of felony driving while under the influence. Listed as homeless, she was arrested after Pullman Police responded to a report of a van which had stalled in a lane on Bishop Blvd. near the entrance lane to Pullman Regional Hospital at 3:34 p.m.

The arrest report alleges Cross has a record of five prior DUI offenses within the last 10 years.

The report by Pullman Officer Joshua Bray said when he arrived at the scene, he saw a man and woman arguing and the woman left. Bray's report says he encountered the male who smelled of alcohol consumption and the man told him the smell came from Cross, who was driving the van, identified as a Ford Aerostar. She admitted driving the van which stalled out when she attempted to drive into the lane at the hospital.

A blood alcohol test on Cross allegedly resulted in a reading of .258, which is more than three times the legal limit for intoxication.

The report urged a high bail be set for pre-trial release. The recommendation alleged Cross had recently served a 90-day term in the Spokane County jail for failing to attend a rehab treatment as ordered by the court.

ANIMAL

CRUELTY ARREST

Aaron J. Garcia, 22, Colfax, was booked into jail Monday on a probable charge of animal cruelty after police investigated a report of animals being kept in an unoccupied house on S. 211 Cromwell. The report by Officer Matt Malakowsky said he and Chief Rick McNannay went to the residence after getting a report at 2:45 p.m. Monday. The report said they observed a bunny through a window inside the house. The bunny did not respond and they subsequently discovered the animal was barely breathing. The bunny allegedly had been kept in a cage where its water bottle was determined to be dry.

Malakowsky reported they took the bunny to Bunchgrass Veterinary Clinic in Colfax where it subsequently died.

Garcia, who was alleged to be keeping dogs at the house, was arrested after he was observed driving on Last Street and booked into jail at 4:21 p.m.

SWIM MEET FUNDING

GETS OKAY

Colfax Councilwoman Crystal Christopherson reported to the city council Monday night that the swimming pool meet costs have been approved to be paid out of revenue from the motel surtax. The approval was part of her report on a meeting of the city's EdTech committee, which oversees spending out of the motel tax fund.

Christopherson added the panel approved the spending on condition that a followup report be made on the local economic impact of having the swim competitions here. The largest meet of the swim season brings all teams in the novice league to Schmuck Park at the end of the season for a big meet.

Colfax swim team coach Sarina Roberts at the previous council meeting questioned the addition of the $2,300 pool meet rental fee to the annual billing the team receives for costs for using the pool.

COLFAX

BUDGET AMENDMENT

An amendment to the 2018 city budget was approved by the Colfax City Council Monday night. Chris Mathis, city finance director, said part of the amendment dealt with inserting the revenue from the new metropolitan park district levy into the budget.

The city discovered after the budget process that the 2016 ballot measure to form the metro district and a special levy had actually passed. The levy, expected to bring in approximately $81,000, was included on this year's tax statements.

Mathis noted the metropolitan park district will be included in the amended budget. Revenue from the levy will be moved into the city parks budget where it will be used for capital expense projects.

A pool slide, new doors and a drinking fountain are among items which could be on the spending list. Levy revenue could also go to other park projects.

Mathis noted the city also aims to build up a parks reserve which had been depleted over years of deficit operation.

The budget revision will also include a decrease in pool fees back to last year's rates. The park board had hiked fee rates to increase revenue before it realized the special levy funds would be available. The park board opted to drop the proposed fee hike so residents won't be asked to pay for the special levy and then have to also pay increased fees to use the pool.

ONE RACE SET FOR PRIMARY

Lone local race for the Aug. 7 primary will be the three contenders for district court judge. Dan LeBeau, John Hart and Rob Rembert filed for the seat being vacated by Judge Doug Robinson.

All three earlier this year announced their intent to seek the office. All three Saturday made a campaign appearance in Garfield's May Day parade with groups of supporters.

Five county officials wound up unopposed after the close of filing week and will be on track for another term. They include Prosecutor Denis Tracy, Sheriff Brett Myers, Assessor Robin Jones, Court Clerk Jill Whelchel and Coroner Annie Pillers. Both Jones and Pillers filed for office after being appointed earlier this year.

Treasurer Mark Clinton is being challenged by Chris Nelson of Endicott. Both are Republicans. The county auditor's office, which will be vacated by the retirement of Eunice Coker, will be sought by Sandy Jamison of Garfield, Republican, and Eric Fejeran of Pullman, Democrat.

Republican incumbent County Commissioner Michael Largent of Colfax will be challenged for the district 3 seat by John-Mark Mahnkey of Pullman, a Democrat.

Republican State Reps. Joe Schmick and Mary Dye also face challengers. Dye will again face Jenn Goulet of Pasco, and Schmick will face Matthew Sutherland of Pullman. Both challengers are Democrats.

JUDGE

ROBINSON ENDORSES HART

District Court Judge Doug Robinson, who will conclude 18 years of service when he retires at the end of the year, has endorsed Pullman Attorney John Hart, one of three candidates seeking the seat.

Judge Robinson cited Hart's service on the Colfax Municipal Court bench since 2012.

"He will bring his years of judicial experience, education and training to the position," Robinson said.

TRIAL SET

IN STOLEN TRUCK CASE

A June 18 trial date for Travis O. Pena, 28, Kamiah, Idaho, was set Friday after he pleaded not guilty to charges of being in possession of a stolen vehicle and criminal impersonation. Pena was booked into jail at 10 p.m. May 16 after he was arrested on Highway 195 near Thornton. According to the arrest report, a state trooper arrested Pena near mile marker 54 on Highway 195 after he observed the pickup he was driving going approximately 80 miles an hour.

The truck was a 1954 Ford F-150 pickup. The report said the driver of the truck had difficulty locating the registration and other papers in the truck. It alleged the driver initially identified himself as Travis Oatman.

The license plate on the truck turned out to be for a 1999 Mercury. According to the report, the truck had been reported to have been stolen May 6 in Orofino, Idaho.

TRIAL DATE

ON CREDIT CARD CHARGES

An Aug. 13 trial date was scheduled for Teresa Marie Madrid, 45, Colfax, after she pleaded not guilty to charges of being in possession of stolen credit cards. According to the arrest report by Officer Michael Jordan, Madrid was arrested May 12 while she was driving along Highway 272 between Palouse and Colfax.

She allowed the deputy to search her car and he allegedly located two credit cards and a drivers license. The drivers license allegedly belonged to a man from Big Sandy, Mont., who allegedly told the deputy he had lost his wallet at the Coeur d'Alene Casino.

FRANKLIN CORONER’S REPORT

Franklin County Coroner Dan Blasdel May 17 issued official identification and a cause of the unattended death of Noble Stoneman, the WSU graduate who fell into the Palouse River above Palouse Falls last May 10. Blasdel determined the cause of death was drowning, but said Noble was believed to be unconscious when he fell into the river basin above the falls.

Stoneman was hiking along a path above the basin when the ground gave away. He fell approximately 100 feet and hit a ledge, then fell into the river basin.

Blasdel said a fisherman at the scene witnessed the fall.

The autopsy revealed Stoneman sustained severe spinal injures when he hit the ledge above the basin and that knocked him unconscious, Blasdel said.

Stoneman's body was recovered Monday below the falls by the Franklin County Sheriff''s office with a dive team and Med Star helicopter.

Stoneman, who was from Naches, was a spring graduate at WSU. Blasdel said he learned that Stoneman had received a degree in electrical engineering and had been scheduled to begin work with a firm in Bozeman, Mont.

The coroner said Stoneman and a roommate hiked out on one of several pathways which can be accessed on the other side of a four-foot fence from the public parking area at the falls.

He said it was his understanding the state parks department has come under pressure because of the loss of lives at the falls where four people have died since 2015, three of them within the last year.

The Franklin County coroner said he expected a bill of some sort to surface in the next session of the legislature.