News Briefs: Feb. 28, 2019

SUSPECT FACES NEW CHARGES

New charges alleging a break-in at a Colfax apartment were filed last Thursday in superior court against Sheridan A. McGill, 20, Pullman. The charges follow three drug charges filed against McGill, and they played a part in a court decision Friday morning to order a warrant for arrest of the suspect after she failed to appear in court for a second week.

McGill was charged Jan. 28 with delivery of heroin, possession of heroin and possession of methamphetamine. She failed to appear in court Feb. 15 on the charges and was allowed another week. She was contacted on the telephone Friday morning and reported she was still encountering troubles getting her car operating so she could drive over for a court appearance.

Judge Gary Libey was close to allowing her one more week to appear in court, but Senior Deputy Prosecutor Wendy Lierman informed the judge she had filed new charges against McGill Thursday.

She has been charged with burglary and malicious mischief at an apartment in the 200 block of S. Main Street in Colfax Feb. 11. According to the investigation report, McGill is alleged to have kicked in the door to the apartment and damaged its contents, including a flat screen television set.

The report said a surveillance camera video on an adjoining business showed a black Ford Explorer in the area of the break-in. Officer Cory Alcantar said officers are aware that McGill drives an Explorer, and when he showed a photo of McGill to another resident of the building who had seen the suspect that night, McGill was identified. The report noted McGill also had a feud going with the resident of the apartment she allegedly entered.

BUS GARAGE ARREST

Russell Nowell, 27, Pullman, was booked into jail here on probable charges of malicious mischief and vehicle prowl after he was arrested Feb. 15 at the Pullman School District bus garage on NW Olsen Street. An arrest report by Officer Wade Winegardner said Nowell was suspected of prowling a Chevrolet Uplander van.

The van appeared to have been entered and its contents disturbed.

The report said Nowell, who was standing outside the building when Winegardner arrived early that morning, had a duffel bag, and he admitted items inside the bag were taken from inside the van. Among items in the bag were tire chains and a first aid kit.

The report said Nowell was also in possession of a plastic jar which appeared to contain burned paper. The report said Nowell explained he attempted to burn paper in the jar to keep warm in the van.

JAILED AFTER PORN PLEA

Robert M. Long, 57, Pullman, was remanded to the county jail Feb. 15 after he pleaded guilty to one count of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes. The plea was entered as part of a plea bargain agreement. Part of the agreement calls for the state to drop three other charges against Long.

Long, a WSU employee, was arrested March 30, 2018, at his office in Clark Hall on the WSU campus.

An investigation report by Officer J. Scott Kirk said the investigation began Aug. 4, 2017, when the department received a cybertip from the Seattle Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children unit that child pornography was being uploaded to a computer in Pullman which was eventually traced to Long.

The Seattle report relayed a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The investigation led to a warrant search of Long’s residence in Pullman and seizure of a computer on which officers said they found numerous child pornography items.

Formal charges against Long were amended before he entered his plea to the one charge Friday in superior court.

Long has been scheduled to be sentenced March 15. Under the state’s standard sentencing range, he could face a sentence of from one to three months.

Under the plea bargain offered by Chief Deputy Prosecutor Dan LeBeau, the state will recommend a 30-day sentence with 12 months of probation and ask the court to order Long to pay an additional $5,000 fine.

GUN THREAT CONVICTION

Dewey Walker, 36, Albion, was convicted of unlawful display of a weapon by a Whitman County Justice Court jury Feb. 12. The jury returned the verdict after two hours of deliberation.

Walker was charged after he allegedly confronted two young men in a neighbor’s driveway. He brought a handgun and a pistol with him while he suggested the two young men take the loud pickup truck elsewhere. The two did depart with the truck, but they called the sheriff’s office to report the incident. Walker admitted to having consumed at least five beers before deciding to confront the two men.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Keith Cooper investigated the case, and Senior Deputy Prosecutor Merritt Decker represented the state. A sentencing date has not been set.