Richmond Assault Plea

This past week, Matthew Thomas Richmond of Loon Lake pleaded guilty to Assault in the Second Degree with a Firearm Enhancement. The charge arose out of a road rage incident between two young men on March 23, 2012. It ended when Mr. Richmond shot and severely wounded the other driver, Mr. Josh Pickens.

The incident started out on 395 and ended in Loon Lake where both men stopped their cars. Mr. Pickens had been drinking. At some point, Mr. Pickens tried to leave in his vehicle and Mr. Richmond pulled a gun and shot several times. Both of the men had passengers with them and all gave statements to officers that night. Josh Pickens, after being shot, was able to drive two blocks to the Loon Lake Saloon where he got help. Quick thinking persons there probably saved his life and he was life flighted to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane for emergency surgery. One of the bullets severed the carotid artery in his neck.

The State made a motion to admit evidence of 3 prior road rage incidents (2005, 2008, and 2009) in which Mr. Richmond was involved as 404(b) evidence. This motion was denied. The court ruled there were not sufficient similarities between the other situations to admit them in this case.

Mr. Richmond gave two statements and made a video re-enactment of the scene that night. A 3.5 hearing was held to determine if the statements and the tape he had made that night would come into evidence. He did not want those statements admitted, arguing that there were so many law enforcement officers present that his statements were not voluntary.

The Court ruled all such statements were voluntary because they followed a reading and understanding of his rights, and that Mr. Richmond was in fact eager to tell his side of the story when he made the tape.

Mr. Richmond had no criminal record. Joshua Pickens and family members addressed the court at sentencing. Friends and family members of Mr. Richmond also addressed the court. The Court sentenced Mr. Richmond to 45 months in prison, the maximum sentence for the crime. This is a strike offense. Deputy prosecutor Matt Enzler handled the case for the state.

Drinking and driving and guns do not mix. People get hurt, people die and people go to prison. Lives are ruined by a few moments of foolish temper.

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