By JIM FORMAN / KING 5 News
KINGSTON, Wash. – Kitsap County Sheriff's Department officers continue with their investigation into the property crimes that have victimized residents of all communities within North Kitsap.
Detectives arrested another suspect this week, making it half a dozen already captured and charged in the theft of a quarter of a million dollars in property.
Shawn M. Jessep II of Silverdale, 19, is the most recent person charged in connection with these crimes.
New names and faces were released Friday by detectives trying to hunt down three more fugitives linked to the crimes:
Christopher Ryan Berg is 23 and from Poulsbo is wanted for trafficking stolen property.
Jacob Lewis Dubek, 23 and from Poulsbo is a parolee wanted for running from police and violating his parole.
Donald Lloyd Pugh of South Kitsap, 44, is wanted on three counts of burglary and one of trafficking.
The Kitsap County Sheriff's Department says all three were part of the ring targeting Kitsap Sun subscribers who went on vacation. They were targeted because their deliveryman who was given instructions to hold their papers was in on the crimes.
Detectives have finished photographing, compiling and cataloging all the stolen property items that have so far been recovered.
Starting Monday in Port Orchard, and Tuesday in Kingston, victims can go to the sheriff's office to view the catalogue of those stolen items. Victims will need a police report and an appointment to view it and retrieve their stolen goods.
Detectives say the theft ring traded the stolen property for drugs, and it apparently was the drug dealers who turned on the crooks, cracking the case.
Experienced legal counsel to cannabis businesses, entrepreneurs, and patients.
Seattle, Washington (206) 728-0200
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
Rabbi who hit, killed pedestrian gets two years deferred
By Nancy Bartley
Seattle Times staff reporter
Last Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz's anguished prayers went on for eight hours.
It illustrated the despair the West Seattle rabbi felt over the death of Tatsuo Nakata — the man he struck and killed the previous November, one of Schwartz's faithful said Thursday in Seattle Municipal Court, where his rabbinical colleagues, congregants and family packed the court to beg Municipal Court Judge George Holifield for mercy.
In the Nakata family's view, leniency was what Schwartz got.
"It's not enough," sobbed Bernadette Nakata, the victim's sister, after the sentencing.
The morning of Nov. 14, 2006, Schwartz struck Tatsuo Nakata, who was crossing Southwest Admiral Way in a crosswalk at 47th Avenue Southwest. Nakata, 29, who was an aide to then-City Councilman David Della, later died at Harborview Medical Center.
There were no skid marks to show Schwartz tried to brake, Senior Assistant City Attorney Kevin Kilpatrick said. "He wasn't paying attention."
Schwartz, the director of the West Seattle Torah Learning Center, was on his cellphone at the time, according to court testimony.
It was the second time Schwartz had struck someone with his car. The first time was in May 2005, when he struck Ilsa Govan, who was riding her bike along Interlaken Drive East. Schwartz's car crossed the lane and collided with her, she testified at the sentencing.
"I just wish there was something that could have been done after he hit me," Govan said through her tears.
Schwartz was cited for driving on the wrong side of the road, but the charge was later removed from his record. "I feel lucky to be here. I wish Mr. Schwartz would make the decision never to drive again."
The deferred sentence means that if Schwartz, 37, has no infractions of the law after two years the charge will be dropped from his record.
"I'm outraged," City Attorney Tom Carr said. "To be given a deferred sentence after a trial ... ."
In January, a jury found Schwartz guilty of assault-injury by vehicle and the prosecutor wanted him to spend time in jail. Schwartz could have been jailed up to a year.
But Holifield said no jail time would bring Nakata back.
Holifield on Thursday suspended Schwartz's license for two years and told him he would have to reapply through the Department of License, pay any funeral or medical costs from the accident, and do 500 hours of community service outside his Jewish community.
Some 100 letters supporting Schwartz were sent to the judge, and supporters spoke about his care and support. He told the court that as a result of publicity about the case, he's also received anti-Semitic mail.
One of Schwartz's congregants, Carmen Crincoli, said that on Yom Kippur last September it was agonizing to watch Schwartz's prayers go on and on, evidence, he believed, of the rabbi's inner turmoil. He begged the judge not to incarcerate Schwartz.
The judge said that protecting the public from Schwartz's driving was his main concern.
"Regardless or not if he's a good person," Holifield said, "he's a lousy driver."
The King County Prosecutor's Office declined to prosecute Schwartz because he wasn't intoxicated or driving recklessly. Instead, Schwartz was charged with assault-injury by vehicle, a gross misdemeanor, filed by the Seattle city attorney in Seattle Municipal Court.
When speaking to the court, Schwartz at times was tearful and said that a DVD of Nakata's life — sent to him by Nakata's family — rests beside his bed.
"It haunts my night," he said. "Those thoughts were with me on Yom Kippur."
Nancy Bartley: 206-464-8522 or nbartley@seattletimes.com
Seattle Times staff reporter
Last Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz's anguished prayers went on for eight hours.
It illustrated the despair the West Seattle rabbi felt over the death of Tatsuo Nakata — the man he struck and killed the previous November, one of Schwartz's faithful said Thursday in Seattle Municipal Court, where his rabbinical colleagues, congregants and family packed the court to beg Municipal Court Judge George Holifield for mercy.
In the Nakata family's view, leniency was what Schwartz got.
"It's not enough," sobbed Bernadette Nakata, the victim's sister, after the sentencing.
The morning of Nov. 14, 2006, Schwartz struck Tatsuo Nakata, who was crossing Southwest Admiral Way in a crosswalk at 47th Avenue Southwest. Nakata, 29, who was an aide to then-City Councilman David Della, later died at Harborview Medical Center.
There were no skid marks to show Schwartz tried to brake, Senior Assistant City Attorney Kevin Kilpatrick said. "He wasn't paying attention."
Schwartz, the director of the West Seattle Torah Learning Center, was on his cellphone at the time, according to court testimony.
It was the second time Schwartz had struck someone with his car. The first time was in May 2005, when he struck Ilsa Govan, who was riding her bike along Interlaken Drive East. Schwartz's car crossed the lane and collided with her, she testified at the sentencing.
"I just wish there was something that could have been done after he hit me," Govan said through her tears.
Schwartz was cited for driving on the wrong side of the road, but the charge was later removed from his record. "I feel lucky to be here. I wish Mr. Schwartz would make the decision never to drive again."
The deferred sentence means that if Schwartz, 37, has no infractions of the law after two years the charge will be dropped from his record.
"I'm outraged," City Attorney Tom Carr said. "To be given a deferred sentence after a trial ... ."
In January, a jury found Schwartz guilty of assault-injury by vehicle and the prosecutor wanted him to spend time in jail. Schwartz could have been jailed up to a year.
But Holifield said no jail time would bring Nakata back.
Holifield on Thursday suspended Schwartz's license for two years and told him he would have to reapply through the Department of License, pay any funeral or medical costs from the accident, and do 500 hours of community service outside his Jewish community.
Some 100 letters supporting Schwartz were sent to the judge, and supporters spoke about his care and support. He told the court that as a result of publicity about the case, he's also received anti-Semitic mail.
One of Schwartz's congregants, Carmen Crincoli, said that on Yom Kippur last September it was agonizing to watch Schwartz's prayers go on and on, evidence, he believed, of the rabbi's inner turmoil. He begged the judge not to incarcerate Schwartz.
The judge said that protecting the public from Schwartz's driving was his main concern.
"Regardless or not if he's a good person," Holifield said, "he's a lousy driver."
The King County Prosecutor's Office declined to prosecute Schwartz because he wasn't intoxicated or driving recklessly. Instead, Schwartz was charged with assault-injury by vehicle, a gross misdemeanor, filed by the Seattle city attorney in Seattle Municipal Court.
When speaking to the court, Schwartz at times was tearful and said that a DVD of Nakata's life — sent to him by Nakata's family — rests beside his bed.
"It haunts my night," he said. "Those thoughts were with me on Yom Kippur."
Nancy Bartley: 206-464-8522 or nbartley@seattletimes.com
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Murder charge filed in Maple Valley shooting
P-I STAFF
King County prosecutors charged a 23-year-old Ravensdale man with second-degree murder Wednesday in the shooting death of his friend.
Prosecutors say David Dunn killed Kelly Culp, 47, on Feb. 21, soon after the two picked up breakfast at McDonald's and returned to Culp's Maple Valley house.
Dunn had been doing occasional mechanic work for Culp, who sold used cars and did odd jobs for a repair shop, according to a police document filed in court.
After Culp was found dead with a gunshot wound to the back of the head, King County sheriff's detectives tracked Dunn through surveillance videos and interviews.
Speaking as if referring to a dream, Dunn admitted to police that he killed his friend with a bolt-action rifle, which he said he may have tossed, the court document said.
Police later found Culp's laptop computer under Dunn's bed. No motive for the killing was detailed in the charging papers.
Dunn, who has a juvenile conviction for child molestation, remained in custody on $1 million bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned March 10.
King County prosecutors charged a 23-year-old Ravensdale man with second-degree murder Wednesday in the shooting death of his friend.
Prosecutors say David Dunn killed Kelly Culp, 47, on Feb. 21, soon after the two picked up breakfast at McDonald's and returned to Culp's Maple Valley house.
Dunn had been doing occasional mechanic work for Culp, who sold used cars and did odd jobs for a repair shop, according to a police document filed in court.
After Culp was found dead with a gunshot wound to the back of the head, King County sheriff's detectives tracked Dunn through surveillance videos and interviews.
Speaking as if referring to a dream, Dunn admitted to police that he killed his friend with a bolt-action rifle, which he said he may have tossed, the court document said.
Police later found Culp's laptop computer under Dunn's bed. No motive for the killing was detailed in the charging papers.
Dunn, who has a juvenile conviction for child molestation, remained in custody on $1 million bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned March 10.
Prosecutors won't file felony charges in fatal bike accident
By Seattle Times staff
Prosecutors have decided not to file felony charges against a driver whose dump truck killed 19-year-old bicyclist Bryce Lewis last summer near Seattle's University Bridge.
The truck was turning right, on a green light, from northbound Eastlake Avenue East to Fuhrman Avenue East on Sept. 7. Lewis and a friend were riding straight in the bike lane of Eastlake, toward the bridge, when the truck rolled into their path. There is no evidence the driver was drunk, using drugs or speeding, said Dan Donohoe, spokesman for the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
Witnesses said the trucker was using his turn signal, and apparently did not see the cyclists approaching, Donohoe said. The case is being referred to the city attorney's office for a potential misdemeanor charge.
Prosecutors have decided not to file felony charges against a driver whose dump truck killed 19-year-old bicyclist Bryce Lewis last summer near Seattle's University Bridge.
The truck was turning right, on a green light, from northbound Eastlake Avenue East to Fuhrman Avenue East on Sept. 7. Lewis and a friend were riding straight in the bike lane of Eastlake, toward the bridge, when the truck rolled into their path. There is no evidence the driver was drunk, using drugs or speeding, said Dan Donohoe, spokesman for the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
Witnesses said the trucker was using his turn signal, and apparently did not see the cyclists approaching, Donohoe said. The case is being referred to the city attorney's office for a potential misdemeanor charge.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Renton man faces murder charge in party shooting
P-I STAFF
An 18-year-old Renton man accused of shooting another young man at a South Seattle party last month was charged Tuesday with second-degree murder.
Jonathan James Hall will be arraigned March 4 in King County Superior Court in the Jan. 26 death of Perry Henderson, also 18.
Police say the two men had been feuding over a young woman for weeks before they got into an argument outside the party. Henderson took of his shirt and got ready to fight, but several people pulled him away.
Police say Henderson eventually broke free, threw a rock at the young woman's car and kicked Hall's car as they drove past him. Hall is accused of firing at Henderson, shooting him at least four times.
An 18-year-old Renton man accused of shooting another young man at a South Seattle party last month was charged Tuesday with second-degree murder.
Jonathan James Hall will be arraigned March 4 in King County Superior Court in the Jan. 26 death of Perry Henderson, also 18.
Police say the two men had been feuding over a young woman for weeks before they got into an argument outside the party. Henderson took of his shirt and got ready to fight, but several people pulled him away.
Police say Henderson eventually broke free, threw a rock at the young woman's car and kicked Hall's car as they drove past him. Hall is accused of firing at Henderson, shooting him at least four times.
Online chats lead to arrest in rape of Bellevue teen
By JANE McCARTHY / KING 5 News
BELLEVUE, Wash. - Detectives say online chats proved to be key evidence in a case of a Bellevue teen who was raped four times.
The path to the crime began online, when the 16-year-old victim began chatting with the 17-year-old suspects on MySpace.com.
After a while, she thought they'd become friends, and they convinced her to meet them.
They provided her with alcohol, according to detectives, and she consumed a great deal of it in a short amount of time, to the point where she was unable to make any decisions or resist.
That's when the boys pulled their car into a dark parking lot in Bellevue, the victim - and later one of the suspects - told police.
"She was there raped by all four males in the back of the car they were riding in," said Greg Grannis, spokesperson for the Bellevue Police Department.
The suspects might have gotten away with it, but police served a search warrant on the suspects' MySpace pages. Police discovered the chat logs, which then led to the four arrests.
The victim was able to point police to the suspects' MySpace pages, where court documents say they "callously bragged about the assault," and wrote that they "feared (the victim) would contact the police and said they would kill her if she did."
"Not only did they talk about the crime they committed, but they thought that it had worked so well, that they might try it again with another victim," Grannis said.
Allan Kush, of the Internet safety group Wiredsafety.org, is not surprised by the case. He describes a certain naiveté among young online users.
"Because they're very trusting and they think they click, you know, that type of thing," he said. "But what ends up happening are things they never expected or dreamt of."
He says parents must monitor their child's online activities and make it clear that it's never OK to meet privately with someone they've met online.
All four suspects are 17 years old, and have been charged as juveniles.
However, based on the seriousness of the crime, the King County prosecutor may decide to charge them as adults instead.
BELLEVUE, Wash. - Detectives say online chats proved to be key evidence in a case of a Bellevue teen who was raped four times.
The path to the crime began online, when the 16-year-old victim began chatting with the 17-year-old suspects on MySpace.com.
After a while, she thought they'd become friends, and they convinced her to meet them.
They provided her with alcohol, according to detectives, and she consumed a great deal of it in a short amount of time, to the point where she was unable to make any decisions or resist.
That's when the boys pulled their car into a dark parking lot in Bellevue, the victim - and later one of the suspects - told police.
"She was there raped by all four males in the back of the car they were riding in," said Greg Grannis, spokesperson for the Bellevue Police Department.
The suspects might have gotten away with it, but police served a search warrant on the suspects' MySpace pages. Police discovered the chat logs, which then led to the four arrests.
The victim was able to point police to the suspects' MySpace pages, where court documents say they "callously bragged about the assault," and wrote that they "feared (the victim) would contact the police and said they would kill her if she did."
"Not only did they talk about the crime they committed, but they thought that it had worked so well, that they might try it again with another victim," Grannis said.
Allan Kush, of the Internet safety group Wiredsafety.org, is not surprised by the case. He describes a certain naiveté among young online users.
"Because they're very trusting and they think they click, you know, that type of thing," he said. "But what ends up happening are things they never expected or dreamt of."
He says parents must monitor their child's online activities and make it clear that it's never OK to meet privately with someone they've met online.
All four suspects are 17 years old, and have been charged as juveniles.
However, based on the seriousness of the crime, the King County prosecutor may decide to charge them as adults instead.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)