On May 22, 2013 Samuel L. Rickard appeared before Judge Patrick Monasmith for sentencing after entering a plea of guilty to Rape in the Second Degree. The charge arose out of an incident that occurred in the evening of September 20, 2012. On that date, Mr. Rickard was intoxicated and sexually assaulted his handicapped adult stepdaughter. She was handicapped as the result of a significant brain injury she received in a physical assault in the spring of 2012 in Spokane. Her boyfriend at that time is suspected of the assault, but no proof was available and Spokane authorities did not file any charges.

After the sexual assault last September, Mr. Rickard fled to Montana, but he was arrested there and brought back to Stevens County to face the charge.

Judge Monasmith heard from the victim’s mother, two brothers, and other family members. Judge Monasmith then sentenced Samuel Rickard to 96 months (8 years) in prison. As a result of this conviction, Mr. Rickard will also be subject to Department of Corrections supervision for the rest of his life and will be required to register as a sex offender. Deputy Prosecutor Lech Radzimski represented the state in this case.

About one year ago, a number of stolen grave markers were found in the yard of a Chewelah man. The investigation revealed that he had stolen the grave markers from several county graveyards. His intention was to perform some “religious rite” with these grave markers. He was arrested and charged, but before he was arraigned it became obvious that he was incompetent to proceed.

He was sent to Eastern State Hospital and remained there until October when an order finding him competent was entered and the case moved forward temporarily. But from January 2013 to March 20, 2013 the progress of the case was again delayed due to questions about his competency.

At the Plea and Sentencing hearing on May 21, 2013, Mr. Terry L Verhaag pleaded guilty to three counts of Unlawful removal of Grave Markers. Each of these counts had aggravating circumstances attached to them, due to the large number of headstones involved. While the Standard Range for the offense is 0-12 months, he was sentenced to 22 months of Prison. Matt Enzler represented the state in this case.