Briefs: August 15, 2019

Colfax harassment sentence

Devan M. Hannas, 21, Colfax, was sentenced to serve two days in jail after he pleaded guilty to a reduced harassment charge Friday morning in superior court. Hannas had been charged with harassment with a threat to kill and trespassing in superior court, but those charges were dropped and he was charged in justice court.

The charge involved a June 17 episode at a residence in south Colfax when Hannas made threats to kill during a drunken tirade. He threatened the life of the occupants of a residence.

The home owner had armed himself with a shotgun and stood at his front door while Hannas screamed his threats. Judge Gary Libey pointed out Hannas had put himself in a very dangerous situation.

Hannas was ordered to undergo two years of probation and abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages. Unlike superior court, defendants convicted in district court can be supervised by a probation officer. By being convicted in judicial court Hannas will be under supervision.

Hannas admitted to the court he had a drinking problem.

He was ordered to pay $1,742 in fines and fees and to not go on the property of the harassment victims during the probation period.

COLFAX FIRE RESPONSE

A Colfax fire crew responded Sunday at 4:21 p.m. to a report of a possible car fire in south Colfax. A family moving a student to WSU observed smoke coming out of the 2000 Oldmobile and pulled into the short segment of Wawawai Street on the north side of Firemen's Park.

When they opened the trunk of the sedan, contents of the trunk ignited when air hit. The fire was doused and contents in the trunk removed.

The fire is believed to have started from a faulty muffler which was under the trunk.

The move to campus was a two-car operation, and the family planned to leave the Oldsmobile with the student at Pullman.

Items burned by the fire were placed in garbage bags and the remaining contents placed in the second car for the final leg of the trip to Pullman.

SOUTH F STREET PATCHED

Ben Miller of Colfax, returned to Colfax city council Aug. 6 to again inquire about the status of S. F Street. Miller at the prior council session reported S. F Street, which intersects with the south side of Highway 195 on the south entry into Colfax was deteriorating and needed repairs.

Public Works Director Matt Hammer reported the city had applied some patch work to the street since the last council session. He said it was a temporary repair which will serve until the city can determine if the street is actually city property.

Hammer at the prior council session said it has been his understanding that S. F Street was private property. He said that is how city crews have considered the street since he started working for the city back in 1987.

Hammer at the prior session presented council members with a 1940s era plat map which had S. F Street marked as vacated.

Research by Hammer and city hall staffers have failed to document whether the street was vacated.

The small segment of F south of Highway 195 aligns with the segment of F Street which intersects with Thorn Street. That segment turns into Chase Street on the south side of the hill and ends at that point.

Miller and Serena Roberts will be on the November ballot as candidates for city council seat five which is now being held by Councilman Al Vorderbrueggen who has decided not to seek another term.

RHUBY FACES THEFT CHARGE

Nicholas Rhuby, 35, has been summoned to appear in superior court Aug. 24 on a charge of second-degree theft which was filed against him Monday.

The investigation report alleges Rhuby took checks from a former employer and made out payments to himself. The report alleged Rhuby cashed five checks for a total of $8,621.

The report by Deputy Randy Zehm said the signatures of the account holder did not match up with the signature on the checks made out to Rhuby and allegedly cashed by Rhuby.

Zehm's report said the sheriff's office obtained surveillance videos from the US Bank branch at Washington State University and the man who is recorded cashing the checks in the videos appears to be Rhuby.