Latest news with #PierceCountySuperiorCourt
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Driver charged in Pierce County wreck that killed motorcyclist riding next to wife
A 42-year-old Puyallup woman accused of driving drunk and colliding head-on with a motorcycle in South Hill over Memorial Day weekend, killing a man who was riding next to his wife, was charged Tuesday with vehicular homicide. A plea of not guilty was entered on Christy Lynn Carter's behalf at an arraignment hearing Tuesday afternoon. Pierce County Superior Court Judge Scott Peters ordered her held in jail in lieu of $100,000 bail. Court records show Carter is an employee with the City of Bonney Lake. According to her LinkedIn page, she is an accounting specialist. She has no prior criminal history. A defense attorney was not listed in court records. Asked about the city's employment of Carter, the City of Bonney Lake's assistant to the city administrator, Leslie Harris, told The News Tribune on Wednesday that it is the city's standard practice not to share information on employment matters. According to charging documents, Carter was driving a 2019 Jeep Cherokee on Sunday, May 25, going east on 152nd Street East at high speed. At the same time, a husband and wife were riding their motorcycles west. Carter's vehicle was reportedly out of control when it exited a right-hand corner and then crossed the center line, striking one of the motorcycles head on. The collision occurred shortly before 5:30 p.m. near Pope Elementary School. The man riding the motorcycle was ejected and died at impact, according to the probable cause document. The Sheriff's Office said the second motorcyclist was grazed by the Jeep. Deputies said the Jeep continued for another 100 yards, taking out street signs and a fire hydrant before coming to a rest. The victim has not yet been identified by the Medical Examiner's Office. KING 5 identified him as a 'beloved' biker who was a veteran and reported that dozens of people from various bike clubs met on Memorial Day to honor his memory. Carter was contacted at the collision scene by deputies, and a portable breath test recorded her blood-alcohol level at 0.15 percent, above the legal limit of 0.08. She allegedly told deputies she had two alcoholic seltzers and a cannabis gummy earlier in the day. The woman told deputies she did not remember what happened, according to the probable cause document, but she remembered being hit in the face at impact. Deputies reported she had a minor nose injury likely caused by the air bag deploying.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ex-Pierce County court clerk gets $1M after complaints of toxic work environment
The Pierce County Council unanimously approved a settlement for $1 million to former Pierce County Superior Court Clerk Constance White on Tuesday in response to a claim White filed on March 31 alleging discrimination and retaliation against her as an African American woman. According to the claim, which asked for a $5.5 million settlement, White alleged since 2022 she was discriminated against based on her status. White said her input was sought on issues like race but 'as to the merits of Clerk's Office standards, I was ignored and marginalized.' White was appointed Pierce County Clerk in December 2021. County communications manager Kyle Schmidtke confirmed Wednesday that White is no longer employed with Pierce County and that Julie Murray has been serving as active interim clerk since Monday. Murray is executive counsel to Executive Ryan Mello. The Pierce County Superior Court Clerk's office oversees the court's legal financial transactions, including civil, domestic, felony criminal, civil commitment, probate, guardianship, paternity and adoptions, according to the 2024-2025 budget. The Clerk of the Superior Court is also responsible for managing and processing administrative documents and serves as the court's record keeper. The office's 2024-2025 budget is about $17.8 million. As previously reported by The News Tribune, in 2022 and 2023 more than five staff members spoke with Pierce County Human Resources alleging White created and fostered a hostile work environment that left many staff feeling isolated, anxious and intimidated. The office saw significant turnover from 2021-2023 and the loss of institutional knowledge was cited by state auditors as the reasons for a 'significant lack' of financial control and general oversight of the Pierce County Superior Court Clerk's Office. In 2024 The News Tribune also reported that in 2021 White found out that a private title company had used space in the Clerk's Office rent-free for more than 30 years. Title Support Services Inc. was removed in December 2023. In her claim against Pierce County, White alleged, 'My leadership was undercut at every turn' and an HR director told her 'the reason staff was refusing to work under my direction was because I was Black.' 'I was not permitted to lead and staff were encouraged to undermine my authority and treat me with disrespect,' she said. 'I was threatened and not supported making the workplace unsafe.' White noted she was injured and was currently seeking medical treatment as a result. Her attorney, Joan Mell, told The News Tribune Wednesday the situation was 'so disappointing' and said White uprooted herself to come to Pierce County from Texas for the job. 'Pierce County officials hold themselves out as so welcoming and enlightened, and it's very disarming to invest in that messaging and have so clearly demonstrated in your face that they are probably less enlightened than they think they are,' Mell said. Schmidtke told The News Tribune in an email Tuesday that 'as with all personnel-related matters, the County does not discuss specific details to protect employee privacy.' 'From the beginning of this administration, we have prioritized making Pierce County a respectful, inclusive, and supportive place to work for everyone — from front-line staff to department directors,' Jaime Smith, Executive Ryan Mello's chief of staff, said in an email. 'Over the past several months, we worked closely with Constance White and her team to address several long-standing challenges within the Clerk's Office. I'm grateful we were able to make meaningful progress and reach a resolution that supports all parties. We thank Ms. White for her service and wish her well in her next chapter.' Schmidtke said Wednesday that the county is 'prepared to launch an open, competitive recruitment for the permanent position' in early June. He declined to comment on White's allegations. 'We worked to resolve this matter constructively and in a manner that supports all involved,' he said. 'The settlement reflects a mutually agreed-upon resolution reached through negotiations between both parties. As with many such cases, the decision to settle was based on a variety of factors, including the potential costs, time, and impacts of extended litigation.'
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
Second man sentenced for Pierce County fatal shooting of teen in set-up robbery
A 20-year-old man who admitted to recklessly causing the death of a teenager in a fatal shooting in South Hill in a set-up robbery during a marijuana transaction was sentenced Friday to nearly 13 years in state custody. Antonio Adan Yescas pleaded guilty in November to first-degree manslaughter with a firearm-sentencing enhancement and first-degree attempted robbery for the Jan. 28, 2023 killing of 19-year-old Wesley Jose Molinero Dominguez. Yescas is the second person to be sentenced for the homicide. Joseph M. Lizarraga-Ortiz was sentenced in January to 20 years in state custody after he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. Yescas was armed with a gun during the robbery, but it was Lizarraga-Ortiz who fired the fatal shot. Both defendants were 17 at the time. Prosecutors originally charged Yescas with first-degree murder as well as attempted robbery. In a court filing asking the court to accept the amended charges, deputy prosecuting attorney Thomas Howe wrote that the change was highly negotiated. Howe said it was an effort to balance four aspects of the case, including Yescas' age and mitigating information provided by his defense attorney, which was detailed in a 700-page packet not filed in the court record. The resolution balanced the fact that although Yescas did not fire the fatal shot, by engaging in a robbery where both he and his codefendant were armed, Yescas bears responsibility for the victim's death, according to the court filing. Howe also said Yescas indicated very early in the case he wanted to resolve the matter short of trial and take responsibility for his actions. According to charging documents, Wesley Molinero Dominguez and Yescas messaged each other on Instagram prior to the shooting, arranging for Yescas to buy $90 worth of marijuana from Molinero Dominguez. Molinero Dominguez and his girlfriend arrived at the location, and two men in black clothing and ski masks — later identified as Lizarraga-Ortiz and Yescas — approached their vehicle and demanded everything they had, the girlfriend later told Sheriff's Office investigators. When Lizarraga-Ortiz and Yescas approached, Molinero Dominguez reportedly said, 'Joseph, you're not going to shoot me. You're my friend,' according to court records. Lizarraga-Ortiz responded by shooting him. The shooting occurred less than a half-mile from Rogers High School, which Molinero Dominguez attended. The sentence Pierce County Superior Court Judge Philip Sorensen imposed was at the low end of the standard sentencing range, 155 to 185 months including enhancements, which was in line with prosecutors' recommendation. Because Yescas was under 18 at the time, he will serve his sentence in juvenile rehabilitation in the custody of the Department of Children, Youth and Families. Felony animal cruelty case against horse-drawn carriage business owner dismissed A felony charge of animal cruelty was dismissed last month against the owner of a Pierce County business that provides horse-drawn carriages for weddings and other events Tammy Lynn Sell, who owns Country Wagon Carriages, was charged with first-degree animal cruelty in Superior Court for the death of a rabbit, which allegedly had signs of starvation on her property near Eatonville. Prosecutors also accused her of second-degree animal cruelty, a gross misdemeanor, for allegedly neglecting a horse. A veterinarian couldn't determine the rabbit's cause of death, according to Prosecuting Attorney's Office spokesperson Adam Faber. Because of that, Faber said, prosecutors had to drop the felony charge. Prosecutors proceeded with the second-degree animal cruelty case, and on April 15, Sell entered a pretrial diversion agreement in District Court where she agreed to no criminal law violations. The horse at issue, named Bell, was observed by an animal control officer in 2022 to have a pressure sore on her right hip and had more sores on her left leg. The officer later concluded that Sell was knowingly and intentionally failing to provide the horse with recommended veterinarian care. Sell will have to complete a course on animal cruelty and will pay $4,466.88 in restitution, according to court records.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
Tacoma man said his mother died by suicide. Prosecutors allege he murdered her
A man charged with the fatal stabbing of his 65-year-old mother in Tacoma is accused of planning the killing. Prosecutors charged Ronald Thomas Stephens, 35, with first-degree murder for the stabbing that happened April 18 in the 1200 block of North Pearl Street. A plea of not guilty was entered on Stephens' behalf during his arraignment Thursday afternoon. Pierce County Superior Court Judge Pro Tempore Brian Tollefson set Stephens' bail at $1.5 million. Deputy prosecuting attorney Dalton Smith, who described the attack as 'violent and vicious,' contend it might have been planned for some time. Prosecutors say Stephens at first implied to police his mother died by suicide, but the investigation did not support his claims. The woman's identity will be released by the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office. Stephens reported to 911 at 8:52 a.m. that he found his mother's body after he woke up to take his 6-year-old niece to school. He told dispatch his mother used his knife to kill herself and did not know how she got it, according to the probable cause document. Stephens' sister and her daughter were reportedly also at the house when the incident occurred, documents show. The woman was pronounced dead at 9:11 a.m. after Tacoma officers and fire personnel went to the apartment. During the investigation, detectives noticed there was no signs of forced entry. There was a cut on the woman's right palm/wrist area and a puncture wound to her upper chest, documents show. She also had a pillow over her face, documents show. Detectives learned Stephens had recently moved to Washington from Utah and was sleeping on the couch at his mother's home, documents show. Documents show that Stephens allegedly made inconsistent statements during the investigation about whether his mother was suicidal. The night before the victim was found dead, Stephens' sister said her mother came home from church between 7:30 to 8 p.m., documents show. She and Stephens were playing the card game UNO until about 11 p.m, according to the sister. She said that the next morning, Stephens tried to tell her that their mother 'took herself.' During the interview with Stephens, detectives said there was a 'strong odor of intoxicants' coming from his breath, documents show. At some point in the interview, Stephens allegedly said under his breath, 'Do I really have to say, 'mom'?' Detectives later learned that Stephens did not like his mother and did not address her in that way, documents show. Detectives allege Stephens' timeline was different from his sister's. During his interview, Stephens told detectives that his mother and sister were 'constantly bickering' and did not get along. He alleged that his mother texted him the night before but did not show detectives the texts when asked to, saying it might have been an email. Detectives also found a handwritten letter in the apartment to the sister that was signed by Stephens from March 22. Some of the content in the letter said, 'I got Me and I got You!!!' 'I Got Your Back,,,,' and 'I Hope You Have Mine,,,' His sister told detectives Stephens began to say he wanted their mom 'gone' after the letter was written. Stephens' sister gave another interview to detectives Tuesday. She said Stephens allegedly did not like how their mother would speak to her and her daughters. When detectives asked the sister if the words, 'I'm going to kill her,' ever came out of Stephens' mouth, she said he said it about five to 20 times over the past month, documents show. Stephens allegedly told her it would 'be easy' and that was why he showed their mom his knives. Stephens' sister recounted the events of the night before the alleged stabbing happened. Their mother came back from church and went to her bedroom, documents show. Stephens and his sister discussed their mom not wanting her to drive the car. His sister said after they played UNO, she went to the bathroom with the fan on, and she assumed her brother went to the living room, documents show. She came out of the bathroom after 15 minutes and did not know where Stephens was so she went to her room. His sister said she eventually heard a 'gasping' noise and did not investigate because she was scared. When Stephens came into her room, his sister told detectives that he said something to the effect of, 'I did it.' There was allegedly blood smeared on his palms as well. His sister told detectives she did not know he would actually go through with allegedly killing their mother. She also denied being involved in her mother's death. Stephens does not have any previous criminal convictions, according to court records.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Yahoo
High school senior accused of firing gun at Pierce County house-party shooting
A high school senior accused of firing a gun during a deadly shooting outside a crowded house party in the Spanaway area appeared in court Monday. Prosecutors said it was lucky he didn't kill anyone. Christopher Lee Cobb, 18 of Federal Way, pleaded not guilty to first-degree assault for his part in the incident, which ended with the deaths of 19-year-old Hector Gonzalez Valdez and 15-year-old Joaquin Ramirez. Four other people were wounded. A second teenager, Isaiah Davion Williams, 17, has been charged as an adult with two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Valdez and Ramirez as well as second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. He remains in custody at Remann Hall on $1 million bail. Before ordering that Cobb be held in jail in lieu of $100,000 bail, Pierce County Superior Court Commissioner Barbara McInvaille said there was an epidemic of gun violence in the country. 'And we have an epidemic of young people possessing guns who should not have them, and who also use them in ways that result in fatalities,' McInvaille said. It's unclear how Cobb came to possess the firearm he's alleged to have used. Deputy prosecuting attorney Dalton Smith said detectives had not yet located the gun. In Washington, it is illegal for people under age 21 to possess a handgun or a semiautomatic assault rifle, although there are exceptions. Cobb's attorney from the Department of Assigned Counsel, Brandy Miller, said the defendant is a senior at Truman High School in Federal Way who has no prior criminal history. Miller told McInvaille that under Criminal Rule 3.2, the presumption is to release the accused person unless that presumption can be overcome. McInvaille agreed but said there are exceptions to the presumption. 'This was a house party that clearly got out of control,' McInvaille said. 'We have two people who are deceased as a result of being there and having been shot.' The amount of bail McInvaille imposed is what was recommended by Smith. He said Cobb wasn't the one who killed the victims, but he possessed a firearm and shot at someone during the incident. Charging documents state Cobb is specifically accused of assaulting Gonzalez Valdez. The March 29 shooting occurred at about 12:24 a.m. in the middle of a residential street in the 17800 block of 25th Avenue Court. A young woman who was injured previously told The News Tribune that the party was meant to celebrate a girl's birthday. Surveillance video showed that Valdez and Ramirez were talking to Williams when they were suddenly shot. Ramirez died at the scene and Valdez died at a local hospital.
