Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
COVID precautions halted in-person trials for nine months
COLFAX — People return to Whitman County Superior Court for a criminal trial on March 15 after a nine-month hiatus.
Last July, members of the Whitman County Health District, prosecutor’s office, and defense attorneys, determined to stop in-person trials to prevent the spread of COVID. An order was given to suspend them until February 2021.
“I can’t think of another time we have put them on hold … and I have been here for 20 years,” said Whitman County Superior Court Administrator Lorena Lynch.
The court began holding hearings by Zoom online meeting software or by phone. The only in-person procedures were readiness meetings, where prosecutors, defense attorneys, and a judge determine if all parties are ready for a trial.
The last in-person trial was in July 2020. The next in-person trial is set for March 15 with Judge Gary Libey presiding.
“This is our first one,” Lynch said.
COVID protections are in place with everyone required to wear a mask and stay a safe distance apart. The distancing is 3-feet, as courts are special. If a person has an issue with the distancing, the judge will resolve it, Lynch said.
Jury selection starts on Monday and the trial scheduled to start the next day. Lynch said potential jurors are to follow instructions and will be vetted in small groups for COVID protection.
“We stage them in groups of 12,” she said.
The trial is to determine if Jason R. Cruz Barrera, 21, of Pullman, is guilty of three counts of residential burglary – domestic violence, three counts of violation of a protection order, and theft in the third degree, according to court records.
An ex-girlfriend told police Barrera allegedly forced his way inside her Pullman apartment when she opened the door on Dec. 3, 2019. The victim claims he left when she started screaming, but returned two more times despite her having a protection order against him.
She told police he unlocked her door the last two times, once throwing her keys inside of her apartment, according to court records. The victim was worried Barrera made a copy of her keys when he had them.
Barrera told police he was in the Tri-Cities at the times he was supposedly entering his ex-girlfriend’s home. Police were unable to find anyone who could account for him, according to the police report.
Bill Stevenson is the former editor of the Whitman County Gazette, Colfax Daily Bulletin and Franklin Connection. He has nearly 30 years of journalism experience covering news in Eastern Washington.
Reader Comments(0)