Last week there was a jury trial in District Court.  The defendant was charged with Obstructing a Law Enforcement Officer.  The charge was the result of the defendant’s refusal to follow the commands of a Sherriff’s Deputy at the scene of a fire in the south part of the county last fall. The state was represented by Deputy Prosecutor Nick Force and the defendant by David Miller of Spokane.

The jury heard from the officers and the fire fighters who were at the scene.  They also heard from other witnesses told the jury what they had seen and heard at the scene of the fire.  The defendant took the stand and testified as well.  After deliberating a little over 2 hours, the jury returned a verdict of guilty of the charge.  Sentencing is set out for about 30 days.

Last week in Superior Court, James Sweeney entered a plea of guilty to the crime of Homicide by Controlled Substances. This charge arouse out of his getting some methamphetamine and sharing it with another person.  That person took the meth and died.  This happened one year ago.  He will be sentenced on April 12.

I attended a meeting of the Stevens County Wildlife Advisory Board.  The meeting was attended by about 35 people who were concerned about various wildlife issues in Stevens County.  A portion of the meeting was devoted to the problems some folks are having with cougars.  One of the speakers was Darrell Shute who talked of the moment in 1999 when he saw his 4 year old grandson attacked by a cougar in the yard of their home.

I spoke briefly about the rights the law gives to people to protect their homes and property from dangerous animals.  I said that the prosecutor’s office will carefully consider the whole situation before making a decision to charge someone as a result of them killing a cougar near their home.

Another of the speakers was Mr. Duvia of Kettle Falls. He is on the Washington State Wildlife Commission.  He talked of the function of the Commission its respect for the rights folks have to protect their property and their lives from dangerous animals.  Various other people, ranchers, cattlemen and sportsmen voiced their concerns about the problem with the cougars and the problems they face trying to live in the areas frequented by these large predators.